English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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legitimate +‎ -ize

Pronunciation

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  • (verb) IPA(key): /ləˈdʒɪtɪmaɪz/

Verb

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legitimize (third-person singular simple present legitimizes, present participle legitimizing, simple past and past participle legitimized)

  1. (transitive) To make legitimate.

Usage notes

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  • Forms of legitimize are about twice as common as forms of the verb legitimate in the US.
  • Forms of legitimate are somewhat more common than the forms of the verbs legitimize and legitimise in the UK combined.

Synonyms

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Derived terms

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Translations

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