reasonably legitimate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "reasonably legitimate" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is considered to be valid or justifiable to a reasonable extent. Example: "The committee found the proposal to be reasonably legitimate, given the circumstances surrounding the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The new president will then have to concentrate on putting together a government seen as reasonably legitimate and competent.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

A new regulation only had to be reasonably related to legitimate penological interests.Using this lower standard, the court ruled in 2006 that periodicals could be denied to prisoners in order to induce better behaviour.

The Economist

Suppose that a group within a legitimate, reasonably just state, is a majority in a portion of the state's territory and prefers to have its own state.

SEP

The decision in that case, Turner v. Safley, said that courts should generally uphold prison regulations that are "reasonably related to a legitimate penological interest".

The New York Times

The government sought dismissal on grounds that there was "no genuine issue for trial," and that the conditions were "reasonably related to the legitimate penological objectives of national and institutional security".

The New York Times

Both lines of argument have recently come under intense scrutiny, and some philosophers now deny that law is entitled to all the authority it claims for itself, even when the legal system is legitimate and reasonably just.

SEP

In this case, the law is constitutional so long as it is reasonably related to a legitimate government interest.

Wikipedia

"These legislative changes specifically targeting PPINK's Lafayette health care center are not reasonably related to any legitimate purpose," said Ken Falk, the ACLU of Indiana's legal director.

Huffington Post

The court heavily relied on the Supreme Court's 1992 decision in Planned Parenthood v. Casey, which said states can limit abortion access if restrictions are "reasonably related" to a "legitimate state interest".

Huffington Post

Give a legitimate reason.

WikiHow

You should reasonably expect two to four legitimate quotations to result from the dialog that remains with the factories that signed your NDA.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "reasonably legitimate", consider the specific context and ensure that the level of legitimacy implied by "reasonably" is appropriate. Avoid using it when a higher degree of certainty or validity is required.

Common error

Avoid using "reasonably legitimate" as a euphemism for something that is actually illegitimate or of questionable validity. Be honest about the degree of legitimacy you are asserting.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "reasonably legitimate" functions as an adjectival modifier, describing a noun by indicating the degree to which it possesses legitimacy. As confirmed by Ludwig, this phrase signifies something valid or justifiable to a moderate extent.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Science

29%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "reasonably legitimate" is a grammatically sound and commonly used adjectival phrase that expresses a qualified sense of validity or justification. As affirmed by Ludwig, this suggests that something is considered legitimate, but not without reservations or limitations. Usage is frequent in News & Media and Science contexts. While "reasonably legitimate" is deemed correct, remember to be mindful to convey the accurate degree of certainty or validity, with alternative phrasing available for subtle variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Fairly justified

Emphasizes the justification aspect, suggesting a level of fairness in the legitimacy.

Moderately valid

Focuses on the validity, implying a middle ground between invalid and fully valid.

Acceptably lawful

Highlights the legality, indicating that it meets a minimum standard of lawfulness.

Plausibly authentic

Stresses authenticity and believability, suggesting the legitimacy is based on plausibility.

Seemingly above board

Implies legitimacy based on outward appearances and adherence to ethical standards.

Credibly sanctioned

Highlights the approval or authorization aspect of legitimacy, emphasizing credibility.

Sufficiently warranted

Concentrates on whether there are enough reasons to justify the phrase or situation.

Tolerably permissible

Suggests the action is not ideal but can be accepted or allowed

Arguably defensible

Highlights the presence of an argument in favor, which could be used to explain or justify the phrase

Passably acceptable

Implies the phrase is good enough to be considered acceptable

FAQs

What does "reasonably legitimate" mean?

The phrase "reasonably legitimate" suggests that something is valid or justifiable to a moderate extent. It indicates that there are good reasons to consider something legitimate, but perhaps not without some reservations or qualifications.

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

You might say, "The committee found the proposal to be "reasonably legitimate", given the limited resources available." This indicates that while the proposal may not be perfect, it has sufficient validity to be considered acceptable under the circumstances.

What are some alternatives to "reasonably legitimate"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "fairly justified", "moderately valid", or "acceptably lawful". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is "reasonably legitimate" the same as "completely legitimate"?

No, "reasonably legitimate" implies a lesser degree of validity or justification than "completely legitimate". Something that is completely legitimate has no question as to its validity, while something that is "reasonably legitimate" has a level of doubt or qualification.