Less legitimate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Less legitimate" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is not as valid, authentic, or credible as something else. Example: "The evidence presented in the case was deemed less legitimate compared to the corroborating testimonies."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

Why is that any less legitimate?

The New York Times - Magazine

Or would the Florida state legislature have been forced to do something even less legitimate?

The New Yorker

This time Stiles had to resort to less legitimate means of restraining him.

Independent

But she says there were other, less legitimate reasons for her unpopularity, too.

The Guardian

"And in the last quarter century, violence has become less legitimate in our society.

The New York Times - Sports

Is the Petula Clark of "Cut Copy Me" less legitimate than the Petula Clark of "Downtown"?

The New Yorker

Is popular culture somehow less legitimate to examine than other forms of culture?

The New Yorker

But it might also have seemed less legitimate to the Israeli people — and they might have moved to end it.

The New York Times

Second, and much less legitimate, is the kind of wrongness that involves making assertions that are logically or empirically indefensible.

The New York Times

In an election ironically reduced to genuinely fuzzy math, would a coin flip really be less legitimate?

The New York Times

So the EU's leaders have scored three out of three: they have made the system less efficient, more complicated and less legitimate.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "less legitimate", ensure that you are providing a clear comparison to something that is considered more legitimate. Context is key to making the distinction understandable.

Common error

Avoid using "less legitimate" when you mean "illegitimate". "Less legitimate" implies a relative deficiency in validity, while "illegitimate" denotes a complete lack of it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less legitimate" functions as a comparative adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate a reduced degree of validity, authorization, or justification. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct and usable expression in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

15%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

3%

Unknown/unmatched sources

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "less legitimate" serves as a comparative adjective phrase that indicates something is not as valid, authorized, or justified as something else. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It is frequently used in news and media, scientific discussions, and encyclopedic contexts to express relative judgments about validity. When using this phrase, make sure that you are providing a clear comparison to something that is considered more legitimate, and avoid using it when you mean something is completely illegitimate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Not as legitimate

A direct rephrasing maintaining the original meaning with a slight shift in emphasis.

Less valid

Focuses on the reduced factual or logical soundness.

Less justifiable

Emphasizes the reduced moral or ethical defensibility.

Less acceptable

Highlights the decreased social or conventional approval.

Less rightful

Implies a weaker claim to a position or possession.

Less authorized

Points to a lack of official permission or endorsement.

Less admissible

Suggests reduced acceptability in a formal setting, such as a court of law.

Of questionable legitimacy

Highlights uncertainty about the validity or rightfulness.

Dubiously legitimate

Emphasizes doubt regarding the legitimacy of something.

Of doubtful validity

Similar to 'of questionable legitimacy', but focusing on the validity aspect.

FAQs

How can I use "less legitimate" in a sentence?

Use "less legitimate" to compare something to another thing that is considered more valid or acceptable. For example, "His claim was "less legitimate" than hers because he lacked evidence."

What are some alternatives to "less legitimate"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "less valid", "less justifiable", or "less acceptable". Choose the alternative that best fits the specific meaning you intend to convey.

Is it correct to say "not as legitimate" instead of "less legitimate"?

Yes, "not as legitimate" is a perfectly acceptable alternative to "less legitimate". It carries essentially the same meaning, indicating that something has reduced validity or authorization.

When should I use "less legitimate" versus "illegitimate"?

"Less legitimate" implies a comparative deficiency, while "illegitimate" indicates a complete lack of legitimacy. Use "less legitimate" when comparing the validity of two things. Use "illegitimate" when something has no valid basis at all.