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
Even by the Associated Press’s recent estimates, nearly sixty per cent of Republicans don’t think Biden was legitimately elected.
—Antonia Hitchens, The New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2024
During that streak, Ferguson captured the interim lightweight title and was legitimately one of the toughest fights anyone could draw.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes, 15 Oct. 2024
Generally that term refers to – and often legitimately – harm imposed on poorer neighborhoods as polluting industries encroach.
—Steven Greenhut, Orange County Register, 13 Oct. 2024
Heap is aligned and backed by many of the MAGA Republicans who have questioned the validity of Maricopa County's election results, and has declined to say whether President Biden legitimately won the 2020 election.
—Jessica Boehm, Axios, 9 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for legitimately 
Antonia Hitchens, The New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2024
During that streak, Ferguson captured the interim lightweight title and was legitimately one of the toughest fights anyone could draw.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes, 15 Oct. 2024
Generally that term refers to – and often legitimately – harm imposed on poorer neighborhoods as polluting industries encroach.
—Steven Greenhut, Orange County Register, 13 Oct. 2024
Heap is aligned and backed by many of the MAGA Republicans who have questioned the validity of Maricopa County's election results, and has declined to say whether President Biden legitimately won the 2020 election.
—Jessica Boehm, Axios, 9 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for legitimately
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'legitimately.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near legitimately
Cite this Entry
“Legitimately.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/legitimately. Accessed 30 Oct. 2024.
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