Legitimate

easy

luh-JIT-uh-mit

adjective

Definition

Conforming to the law or rules; genuine; valid

Examples

The company had legitimate concerns about the contract.
Her claim to the throne was considered legitimate.

Synonyms

lawfulvalidgenuinesanctioned

Antonyms

illegitimatespuriousinvalidfraudulent

Categories

GRE Tip

Legitimate is a easy-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "lawful" or "valid" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "illegitimate".

Related GRE Words

Master legitimate and 800+ GRE words

Learn through stories, practice with real GRE questions, and never forget with spaced repetition.