legit

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adjective

le·​git li-ˈjit 

informal

: legitimate: such as

a

: accordant with law or with established legal forms and requirements

a legit business

Nolan, a retired thief, is 50-ish and legit now, owner of a successful shopping-mall restaurant …

—Publishers Weekly

Set in Las Vegas in the '70s and '80s, "Casino" shows a mob man … trying to go legit while running a casino, but being dragged back into bloody conflict by a ruthless colleague …

—Bruce Westbrook

b

: being exactly as intended or presented : not spurious or false

The offer is legit.

"So, I double-checked the e-mail address, which looked legit, and I called the guy, and he seemed legit."

—Robert Kuttner

also : being an actual example of something specified

Phone addiction is a legit threat on the roads …

—Cam Fuller

But Betty … even goes out of her way to hurt Veronica by trying to strike up a new friendship with Cheryl Blossom. Cheryl is a legit psycho though and a total creep, so that doesn't last long.

—Benjamin Bailey

c

: genuinely good, impressive, or capable of success

They have a legit shot at winning the championship.

"She had this bad habit of making all her shots," said Washington coach Phil Chase. "Let's face it. She's legit."

—USA Today

For all the crap Killington takes, it's still one huge place with plenty of legit terrain and good skiers.

—Skiing

d

: conforming to recognized principles or accepted rules and standards

He has a legit claim to a rematch.

also : fair or reasonable : valid

a legit question/concern

There's an upside to your discomfort: It's a legit excuse to get a weekly massage.

—Richard Lalibert

legit

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adverb

slang

: really, actually

—used for emphasis

"… I got a lot going on, and I don't remember things very well, and I forgot. I legit forgot."

—Kristen Bell

"I legit tracked down the neighborhood ice cream truck guy and hit him up until he agreed to show on my block the day of the shoot. … "

—Miss Eaves

"Now, I didn't want to be one of the people disappointed in the finale. But I legit don't know what's happening. It's like they just gave up on a storyline."

—DeRay Mckesson

"I think we legit overpowered our monitors," country singer Brett Kissel proclaimed late in the evening at the Palomino Smokehouse in downtown Calgary.

—David Friend

Synonyms

Adjective

• lawful
• legal
• legitimate
• licit

Examples of legit in a Sentence

Adjective

What she's doing is perfectly legit.

All I want is a legit chance to succeed.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

In short, Huff’s pump fakes, combined with his acceleration at 7-foot-1, are legit. —Kelly Iko, The Athletic, 24 Jan. 2025

Three of the remaining teams have legit dual-threat QBs able to beat you on the run; the fourth is Mahomes, who has the mobility or run when needed. —Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 20 Jan. 2025

Here's how to stay safe: Book through a legit source. —Christopher Elliott, USA TODAY, 17 Jan. 2025

Precinct brass need to figure out legit parking that meets the needs of officers without infringing on the community. —New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 16 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1907, in the meaning defined above

Adverb

1998, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing legit

• go legit