legitimately

/lɪˈdʒɪtɪmətli/ (bre, ipa) · /lɪˈdʒɪtɪmətli/ (ame, ipa) · /li-ˈji-tə-mət-lē/ (ame, mw)

legitimately — adverb

1. done in a way that follows what the legal system allows, without breaking any fo

1.副詞B2
釋義

done in a way that follows what the legal system allows, without breaking any formal rules or regulations that governments or authorities set.

例句

The family business was operating legitimately with all permits from the city government.

collocation: operating legitimately + with permits

Pablo could legitimately inherit the farm because his name appeared in his uncle's will.

passive: could legitimately + inherit

同義詞
  • legally

    more general term for anything permitted or required by law

  • lawfully

    more formal; often used in official or police contexts

  • licitly

    rare, formal; mostly in legal writing

反義詞

用法筆記

Frequently used to describe business activities, financial transactions, or personal actions that comply with formal legal requirements. Subject is typically a person, company, or organisation performing an action governed by law.

常見錯誤

❌She was legitimately tired after the flight' (when meaning legally).
✅She was legitimately tired after working a twelve-hour shift
💡the legal sense applies only to actions governed by law, not physical states; use sense 2 for reasonable feelings.

2. for good and fair reasons that most people would agree make sense; in a way that

2.副詞B2
釋義

for good and fair reasons that most people would agree make sense; in a way that is justifiable given the facts of a situation.

例句

Elena was legitimately upset when her flight was cancelled without any explanation.

legitimately + adjective of emotion (upset)

Hassan could legitimately ask for a raise after working overtime for six months.

could legitimately + ask for / expect

同義詞
  • justifiably

    very close in meaning; slightly more formal

  • reasonably

    everyday alternative, less formal than legitimately

  • fairly

    emphasises the balance or justice of the situation

反義詞
  • unreasonably

    without fair grounds; the most direct opposite

  • unjustifiably

    formal opposite, suggesting no defensible reason exists

用法筆記

Common with verbs of emotion, evaluation, or expectation (complain, feel, expect, be worried, be upset). The adverb signals that the feeling or action has fair and understandable grounds — it is not an overreaction.

常見錯誤

❌The business was legitimately registered' (when the focus is on legal permission).
✅The business was legitimately registered with the trade authority
💡use sense 1 when the core idea is compliance with law, not fairness of a reaction.