Legitimate Definition and Legal Meaning

On this page, you'll find the legal definition and meaning of Legitimate, written in plain English, along with examples of how it is used.

What is Legitimate?

(adj) Legitimate is the term used to qualify an action, event or thing etc which satisfies all the legal adherence required for such action, event, things etc to be a legally existing and sustainable in the eyes of law. Eg.. Marriage relation is required to make the kid as a legitimate kid

History and Meaning of Legitimate

The term "legitimate" has its roots in Latin word "legitimatus" meaning "lawful". It is used in legal contexts to refer to an action, event or thing that is in accordance with the law. Legitimacy is granted when adherence to certain legal requirements is met. In the case of personal relationships, legitimacy is conferred on children born to married parents, while for businesses it is conferred to companies that are registered and incorporated legally.

Examples of Legitimate

  1. A legitimate contract is one that is signed by two consenting people who follow all the requirements for signing a contract.
  2. A business is considered legitimate when it is registered, has obtained all necessary licenses and meets all legal requirements.
  3. A child born to married parents is considered legitimate, while one born to unmarried parents may be considered illegitimate.

Legal Terms Similar to Legitimate

  1. Valid - refers to an agreement that is legally binding and enforceable.
  2. Legal - refers to something that is in accordance with the law.
  3. Lawful - refers to something that is permitted or authorized by law.