legitimately meaning

UK US /ləˈdʒɪtəmətli/ 5 syllables

legitimately (adverb): in a manner acceptable to common custom.

legitimately has 2 meanings in this dictionary.

legitimately as an adverb

  1. in a manner acceptable to common custom
    • you cannot do this legitimately!

    Synonyms: lawfully, licitly

    Opposite: illegitimately

    Related forms: legitimate

  2. in a lawfully recognized manner
    • let's get married so our child can be born legitimately

    Opposite: illegitimately

    Related forms: legitimate

How to pronounce legitimately

legitimately is pronounced /ləˈdʒɪtəmətli/ in American English. It has 5 syllables, with the stress on the second syllable.

Scrabble score: 18 (letter breakdown)

Word lists: words starting with LE · words ending in LY · 12-letter words

More about legitimately on Wikipedia.