Legitimate means real, legal, and properly done according to established rules or standards. When something is legitimate, it's the genuine article, not fake or fraudulent. A legitimate business follows all the laws and regulations. A legitimate complaint is based on real problems, not made-up grievances.

In history, the word often described rulers who had a rightful claim to power. A legitimate king inherited the throne according to the kingdom's laws, while a usurper seized power illegitimately through force or deception.

You'll encounter this word in many contexts. A teacher might ask if your excuse for missing homework is legitimate or just a creative story. Scientists debate whether a new discovery represents a legitimate breakthrough or flawed research. When you download software, you want the legitimate version from the official website, not a suspicious copy that might contain malware.

The opposite is illegitimate, meaning not legitimate, unlawful, or fake. If someone questions whether something is legitimate, they're asking: “Is this real? Is this allowed? Can we trust this?” A legitimate answer can withstand scrutiny because it's based on truth and follows proper procedures.