Definition

1. Verb (transitive):
   • To make something legal or acceptable according to the law or established rules: The core meaning is to give legal status or formal authorization to something that was previously illegal, unauthorized, or not officially recognized.
   • To justify or make something seem reasonable or acceptable: It can also mean to provide a valid reason or justification for an action, belief, or situation, thereby making it socially or morally acceptable.

Examples of Usage

• Verb:
  • The new law will legitimize the use of certain medical procedures.
  • The treaty legitimized the country's claim to the territory.
  • Winning the championship legitimized the team's hard work and dedication. (Here, it means to justify or validate their effort.)
  • Some argue that using social media for news can legitimize misinformation.

Advanced Usage

• "to legitimize oneself/one's authority": to establish one's own power or position as valid and rightful.
  • The new leader sought to legitimize his authority through democratic elections.
• "to be widely legitimized": to be broadly accepted as valid or proper.
  • Remote work has become widely legitimized in many industries.

Variants and Related Words

• Legitimise (verb): The British English spelling variant of "legitimize".
• Legitimatize / Legitimatise (verb): Less common variants with the same meaning.
• Legitimacy (noun): The quality of being legal, valid, or acceptable.
  • The court questioned the legitimacy of the contract.
• Legitimate (adjective): Conforming to the law or rules; valid, justifiable.
  • He had a legitimate reason for being late.
• Legitimation (noun): The process of making something legitimate.

Synonyms

• Legalize: To make something legal (often used specifically for laws).
• Authorize: To give official permission for something.
• Validate: To confirm or prove the validity of something.
• Sanction: To give official approval or permission.
• Justify: To show or prove to be right or reasonable.

Antonyms

• Criminalize: To make something illegal.
• Illegalize: To make something illegal.
• Delegitimize: To undermine the legitimacy or authority of something.
• Invalidate: To make something legally or logically unsound; to nullify.

Related Phrases

• "Legitimize a regime/government": To establish a government's right to rule as lawful and recognized.
  • International recognition helped to legitimize the new regime.
• "Legitimize a practice": To make a common activity officially acceptable or standard.
  • The research aims to legitimize the practice of alternative medicine.

Verb

1. make legal
   • Marijuana should be legalized