We consider it the citizens' legitimate right to have public libraries.
Source: tatoeba (22991)
Legitimate
/lɪˈd͡ʒɪt.ɪ.mət/
Synonyms for "legitimate" (421 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (85)
Adjective(27 words)
lawfullicitaboveboardactual outcomeallowed inputsapprovableapproveauthenticauthentic artifactauthentic behaviorauthentic celebrationauthentic cultureauthentic evidenceauthentic native referenceauthentic sourcesauthentic specimenauthorizeauthorizedauthorized actionclean hands
Show 7 more words
compliant behaviorconstitutional authorityconstitutional checks and balancesconstitutional provisionsconstitutional settlementdanish lovecht
Noun(12 words)
accepted rulebe appropriatebe originalcharterconstitutional amendmentsconstitutional courtconstitutional crisisconstitutional draftingconstitutional federationconstitutional powerconstitutional reformsde offiziell
Verb(5 words)
Strong matches (126)
Adjective(45 words)
explaingenuinegenuine apologygenuine articlegenuine eventgenuine goldgenuine interestgenuine smilegenuine surprisegood justificationjusterjustifiedjustified reasoningjustifylawful authoritylawful conductlawful contractlawful qualifierlegallegal agreement
Show 25 more words
legal burial contextlegal conditionlegal disputelegal documentslegal domainlegal entitieslegal mandatelegal matterslegal measurelegal mechanismlegal movelegal processlegal protectionslegal requirementslegal rightlegal rightslegal rulelegal standardlegal tabletlegal textlegal theorieslegal validitylegalizelogicalmoral authority
Noun(26 words)
fair sharehalaljustifyinglaw-related adjectivelawful ownerlawfully authorizedlawfully conductedlawfully executedlawfully obtainedlawfully regulatedlegal actlegal bodylegal compliancelegal conceptlegal descriptorlegal documentlegal entitylegal frameworklegal groundslegal instrument
Show 6 more words
Preposition(1 words)
in authority
Pronoun(1 words)
it ufficiale
Related words (210)
Noun(30 words)
Adverb(1 words)
more swedish lag
Determiner(2 words)
more valid reasoningmost legal code
movienaturalnaturalisticofficialoperaticordainoriginaloveractedoverplayedpardonablepermissibleplausibleprescribeproperpurerationalrealrealisticreasonableregular
Show 92 more words
regulateremissiblerightrightfulsanctifysanctionsanctionablesanctionedsanescenicself-consistentsensiblesimon puresimon-puresimplesinceresolidsoundspectacularstagelikestagestruckstageworthystagystarstruckstatutorystellarsterlingstraightsubstantialsufficientsure enoughsure-enoughtheaterliketheatricalthespianthrown awaytruetrue to lifetrue to naturetrue to realityunadulteratedunaffectedunassumedunassuminguncoloredunconcocteduncopieduncounterfeitedunderactedunderplayedundisguisedundisguisingundistortedunexaggeratedunfabricatedunfancifulunfeignedunfeigningunfictitiousunflatteringunimaginedunimitateduninventedunobjectionableunpretendedunpretendingunqualifiedunromanticunsimulatedunspeciousunsyntheticunvarnishedvalidvalidatevaudevillianvenialverbalverbatimveridicalverisimilarveritablevindicablewarrantwarrantableweightywell-arguedwell-foundedwell-groundedwholesomewithin the lawword for wordword-for-word
Adjective(62 words)
noncriminalnoncriminal provisionofficial actionofficial ceremonyofficial channelsofficial codeofficial communicationofficial criterionofficial dataofficial documentofficial formatofficial guidelinesofficial introductionofficial letterofficial memoofficial memorandumofficial national capitalofficial policiesofficial policyofficial procedure
Show 42 more words
official proceduresofficial reportofficial reschedulingofficial rulebookofficial sanctionofficial sealofficial setting forthofficial textonsideoriginal accountoriginal versionpeaceful electionspolitical authorityproper inferenceproper placeproper regulationproper ssnpt oficialrationalizerealrealestreasonablereputablesanctionstatutory corpusstrong justificationstrong political structurestrong rule of lawtrue statementunabusedunriggedvalidvalid argumentvalid conclusionvalid contractvalid diagnosis codevalid ideavalid individual assessmentvalid licensevalid transactionvalidatewarranted
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: lawful, licit, aboveboard, acceptable, accepted rule.
- Sentence evidence is available for legitimate, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, derived_reverse, moby, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "legitimate".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "legitimate"
Keep "legitimate" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "legitimate" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "legitimate", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "legitimate" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
16 entriesMore specific
12 entriesauthentic artifactauthorized actioncredible argumentformal approvalgenuine documentlegitimate reasonofficial sanctionpermitted conductsound argumentsound basisvalid claimvalid reason
Collocations
8 entrieslegitimate authoritylegitimate businesslegitimate claimlegitimate concernlegitimate interestlegitimate purposelegitimate questionlegitimate reason
Inflections
5 entriesDerivations
4 entriesAntonyms
1 entriessimilar
13 entriesSample sentences
20 total sentences available.
The Mafia uses legitimate business operations as a front.
Source: tatoeba (32498)
Which prince is the legitimate heir to the throne?
Source: tatoeba (37965)
We consider public libraries a legitimate citizen's right.
Source: tatoeba (398767)
Showing 4 of 20 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "legitimate"?
Closest matches include lawful, licit, aboveboard, acceptable, accepted rule.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "legitimate"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.