legitimately

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "legitimately" is correct and can be used in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is lawfully, officially, or legitimately authorized. Example sentence: The company was legitimately registered with the state government.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Which then means other religions can legitimately press the ruling elite for their bit of power, their strand of hair.

The Guardian - Opinion

Clegg said: "A party legitimately cannot govern a whole nation – the UK – if they want to break that nation apart.

The Guardian

Reflecting on the reasons for David Miliband's defeat in the leadership election, Mandelson frankly admits that New Labour was "too overbearing towards those who wanted quite legitimately to question or debate issues of policy, and they were pushed partly as a result into the arms of those who wanted to strangle New Labour at birth".

The Guardian

In a written judgement, Judge Robin Challender Smith and two tribunal members decided the circumstances of their cases placed the councillors in a position where they "could significantly and legitimately have expected not to be named... "Releasing the information could potentially cause unnecessary and unjustified damage and distress to the individuals".

The Guardian

"This all started out as a joke but now i think i legitimately fancy ed miliband," one teenager confessed.

The Guardian

They say many ordinary people are legitimately angry with world leaders over the financial crisis, and should be entitled to express this anger.

The Guardian

From Pliny the Younger's story of an old man in chains haunting his house, through the stories of the Dybbuk, to the great gothic storytellers and the Blair Witch Project, in all cultures and times there is something here that won't go away; some fear that is legitimately being expressed – the continual return of the repressed.

The Guardian - Opinion

As the first SDP MP to risk supporting a merger with the Liberals, he can legitimately claim to be one of the founding fathers of the Liberal Democrats, a sometimes uneasy political alliance between two traditions in which he always stood on the social democratic wing.

The Guardian

Which of course they did – but "legitimately", as Scargill remarked recently, by bringing about a general election – as took place in the wake of the successful coal strike of 1974.

The Guardian - Opinion

Wednesday's victory feels similarly significant, less the kind of thing to be enjoyed in the moment, like the Ashes triumph, and more a platform from which expectations can be legitimately hoisted towards the sky.

The Guardian - Sport

Since then, Germany has established an expert panel to review the art works and determine which of them might be legitimately claimed by former owners or their heirs.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "legitimately" to convey that something is done in accordance with the law, rules, or accepted standards. For example, a business that is "legitimately" registered operates within the bounds of the law.

Common error

Avoid using "legitimately" when you simply mean 'genuinely' or 'truly'. "Legitimately" carries a connotation of legal or formal correctness that might not be appropriate in all contexts. For example, saying "He legitimately felt sad" might be better phrased as "He genuinely felt sad".

Linguistic Context

The adverb "legitimately" functions primarily to modify verbs or adjectives, indicating that an action or state is carried out in accordance with the law, rules, or accepted standards. Ludwig provides several examples demonstrating this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Social Media

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the adverb "legitimately" denotes actions or conditions performed in accordance with laws, rules, or recognized standards. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and finds frequent use across a variety of contexts. Predominantly appearing in "News & Media" and "Formal & Business" contexts, it serves to validate or authorize actions. For alternatives, consider "justifiably", "rightfully", or "lawfully" depending on the intended nuance. Remember to use "legitimately" when emphasizing legal or formal correctness, distinguishing it from mere 'genuineness'.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

justifiably

Indicates that an action is done with proper justification or reason. It emphasizes the fairness of the action more than its legality.

rightfully

Emphasizes the entitlement or moral correctness of an action or claim. It suggests a sense of deservingness.

lawfully

Focuses specifically on adherence to legal statutes and regulations. It's more formal and less about moral justification.

licitly

Similar to lawfully, licitly denotes adherence to laws and regulations, often in a more formal or technical context.

validly

Implies that something is done according to established rules and procedures, making it officially recognized or acceptable.

properly

Indicates that an action is carried out in the correct or appropriate manner, often implying skill or competence.

duly

Suggests that an action is performed in the correct or expected way, often as a matter of procedure or obligation.

justly

Highlights the fairness or moral rightness of an action or decision, emphasizing ethical considerations.

appropriately

Denotes that an action is suitable or fitting for a particular situation or context, emphasizing relevance and suitability.

correctly

Indicates that an action is performed accurately and without errors, emphasizing precision and accuracy.

FAQs

How can I use "legitimately" in a sentence?

You can use "legitimately" to describe actions or states that are lawful, permissible, or in accordance with established norms. For example, "The company "legitimately" claimed the tax credit because it met all the requirements."

What can I say instead of "legitimately"?

You can use alternatives like "justifiably", "rightfully", or "lawfully" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "legitimately" or "legally"?

Both "legitimately" and "legally" imply adherence to laws or rules, but "legally" focuses specifically on legal statutes. "Legitimately" can also refer to broader standards of correctness or acceptability. For example, something can be "legally" questionable but still "legitimately" justifiable.

What's the difference between "legitimately" and "genuinely"?

"Legitimately" implies compliance with laws, rules or norms, while "genuinely" implies authenticity or sincerity. A "legitimately" owned business adheres to legal regulations, while a "genuinely" kind person shows true empathy and compassion.