LEGITIMATELY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does legitimately mean? 

• LEGITIMATELY (adverb)
  The adverb LEGITIMATELY has 2 senses:

1. in a manner acceptable to common custom

2. in a lawfully recognized manner

  Familiarity information: LEGITIMATELY used as an adverb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• LEGITIMATELY (adverb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

In a manner acceptable to common custom

Synonyms:

lawfully; legitimately; licitly

Context example:

you cannot do this legitimately!

Antonym:

illegitimately (in a manner disapproved or not allowed by custom)

Pertainym:

legitimate (authorized, sanctioned by, or in accordance with law)

Sense 2

Meaning:

In a lawfully recognized manner

Context example:

let's get married so our child can be born legitimately

Antonym:

illegitimately (of biological parents not married to each other)

Pertainym:

legitimate (of marriages and offspring; recognized as lawful)

 Context examples 

After some conversation among these gentlemen, from which I might have supposed that there was nothing in the world to be legitimately taken into account but the supreme comfort of prisoners, at any expense, and nothing on the wide earth to be done outside prison-doors, we began our inspection.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)