Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense legitimizes, present participle legitimizing, past tense, past participle legitimizedlanguage note: The spellings legitimise in British English, and legitimatize in American English are also used.
verb
To legitimize something, especially something bad, means to officially allow it, approve it, or make it seem acceptable.
[formal]
They will accept no agreement that legitimizes the ethnic division of the country. [VERB noun]
Images which glorify violence and cruelty, serve to legitimise such behaviour. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: legalize, permit, sanction, legitimate More Synonyms of legitimize
legitimize in British English
or legitimise (lɪˈdʒɪtɪˌmaɪz), legitimatize or legitimatise (lɪˈdʒɪtɪməˌtaɪz)
verb
(transitive)
to make legitimate; legalize
Derived forms
legitimization (leˌgitimiˈzation) or legitimisation (leˌgitimiˈsation) or legitimatization (leˌgitimatiˈzation) or legitimatisation (leˌgitimatiˈsation)
noun
legitimize in American English
(ləˈdʒɪtəˌmaɪz)
verb transitiveWord forms: leˈgitiˌmized or leˈgitiˌmizing
1.
to make or declare legitimate
; specif.,
a.
to make lawful; give legal force or status to
b.
to give official or formal sanction to; authorize
c.
to give the status of a legitimate child to (one born out of wedlock)
2.
to make seem just, right, or reasonable; justify
Derived forms
legitimization (leˌgitimiˈzation)
noun
Examples of 'legitimize' in a sentence
legitimize
The administration often needs the groups not only for their expertise but also because they help to legitimize decisions.
Wright, Vincent The Government and Politics of France (1989)
The only way to attain a given end is by force, however much the means might be legitimized and sublimated.
Low, Nicholas Politics, Planning and the State (1990)
I wouldn't be surprised to learn that some ruler or other wants to legitimize his claim.
Kerr, Katharine A Time of War (1993)
In other languages
legitimize
British English: legitimize VERB
To legitimize something, especially something bad, means to officially allow it, approve it, or make it seem acceptable.
They will accept no agreement that legitimizes the ethnic division of the country.
American English: legitimize
Brazilian Portuguese: legitimar
Chinese: 使合法化
European Spanish: legitimar
French: légitimer
German: legitimieren
Italian: legittimare
Japanese: 合法化する
Korean: 합법화하다
European Portuguese: legitimar
Latin American Spanish: legitimar
(verb)
Definition
to make legitimate
These images serve to legitimize violence and cruelty.
Synonyms
legalize
a new constitution that legalized divorce
permit
I was permitted to bring my camera into the concert.
Our constitution does not permit the sending of troops.
sanction
He may seem ready to sanction the use of force.
legitimate
We want to legitimate this process by passing a law.
authorize
We are willing to authorize a police raid.
give the green light to
pronounce lawful
Additional synonyms
in the sense of authorize
Definition
to give official permission for
We are willing to authorize a police raid.
Synonyms
permit,
allow,
suffer,
grant,
confirm,
agree to,
approve,
sanction,
endure,
license,
endorse,
warrant,
tolerate,
ratify,
consent to,
countenance,
accredit,
vouch for,
give leave,
give the green light for,
give a blank cheque to,
give authority for
in the sense of legitimate
Definition
to make, pronounce, or show to be legitimate
We want to legitimate this process by passing a law.
Synonyms
legitimize,
allow,
permit,
sanction,
authorize,
legalize,
give the green light to,
legitimatize,
pronounce lawful
in the sense of permit
Definition
to allow (someone) to do something
I was permitted to bring my camera into the concert.Our constitution does not permit the sending of troops.