Following the law or accepted rules; reasonable or fair. As a verb, it means to make something seem legal, proper, or acceptable.
From Latin *legitimus* meaning “lawful, proper,” from *lex* (law). In older use, it also meant born to married parents, showing how law once controlled family status.
We often say something is ‘legitimate’ when we really mean it feels reasonable or valid, not just legal. The word shows how law, fairness, and social approval get tangled together in people’s minds.
'Legitimate' historically distinguished children born within legal marriage from those born outside it, with serious consequences for inheritance and social standing. These norms were deeply gendered, policing women’s sexuality and reproductive roles.
Avoid using 'legitimate' to describe people’s birth status or family structure; instead, use neutral terms like 'marital status at birth' only when strictly relevant.
["valid","well‑founded","lawful","recognized"]
When discussing historical notions of 'legitimacy,' note how women’s autonomy was constrained by moral and legal regimes that tied their status to marriage and childbearing.
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