legitimately
adverb
le·git·i·mate·ly
li-ˈji-tə-mət-lē 
: in a legitimate manner : according to what is lawful, permitted, appropriate, or reasonable
money earned legitimately [=legally]
a question that can be legitimately asked
… objects of ritual significance that were common tribal property seldom if ever could have come legitimately into nontribal hands.—
Robert McC. Adams
Robert McC. AdamsThe other kind of steroids are the potent inflammation fighters widely and legitimately used to treat dozens of illnesses.—Paul G. Donohue
Paul G. Donohue… several objections to their book can legitimately be raised.—Christopher Lehmann-Haupt
Christopher Lehmann-HauptExamples of legitimately in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Trump legitimately repeats the conviction that cleaning forest floors can reduce the intensity and frequency of wildfires.
—Thomas Elias, The Mercury News, 14 Mar. 2025
Streaming on Netflix netflix Genre Fare The Wheel of Time season 3
You’d be excused for tuning out during season one, but this has turned into a legitimately entertaining big fantasy series, especially after the introduction of its dark-mommy character, Lanfear.
—Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 14 Mar. 2025
If this foray into the trenches works, as the Bears try to upgrade the roster for Johnson’s first season, one of the real benefits should be legitimately improving a previously overrated team culture.
—Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2025
People can argue otherwise, but my wife and I's first dog legitimately chose us.
—Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for legitimately
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Thomas Elias, The Mercury News, 14 Mar. 2025
Streaming on Netflix netflix Genre Fare The Wheel of Time season 3
You’d be excused for tuning out during season one, but this has turned into a legitimately entertaining big fantasy series, especially after the introduction of its dark-mommy character, Lanfear.
—Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 14 Mar. 2025
If this foray into the trenches works, as the Bears try to upgrade the roster for Johnson’s first season, one of the real benefits should be legitimately improving a previously overrated team culture.
—Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2025
People can argue otherwise, but my wife and I's first dog legitimately chose us.
—Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for legitimately
Cite this Entry
“Legitimately.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/legitimately. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.
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