legitimately

adverb
UK: /lɪˈdʒɪt.ɪ.mət.li/
US: /ləˈdʒɪt̬.ə.mət.li/

  1. In a way that is acceptable or allowed by law.

    1. He legitimately earned his degree through hard work and study.
    2. The company legitimately avoided taxes by using legal loopholes in the system.

  2. In a way that is reasonable and acceptable.

    1. She legitimately felt sad after watching the movie.
    2. The team legitimately celebrated their victory after a hard-fought season.

  3. Genuinely; in a way that is based on real facts.

    1. This product is legitimately made in Italy.
    2. I legitimately thought I had locked the door; I clearly remember turning the key.

Synonyms

legally genuinely

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "legitimately" in English means: In a way that is acceptable or allowed by law., In a way that is reasonable and acceptable., Genuinely; in a way that is based on real facts..

The phonetic transcription of "legitimately" is /lɪˈdʒɪt.ɪ.mət.li/ in British English and /ləˈdʒɪt̬.ə.mət.li/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "legitimately": legally, genuinely.

Example usage of "legitimately": "He legitimately earned his degree through hard work and study.". More examples on the page.