verb · formal
legitimize
UK/ˈlɛdʒɪtɪmaɪz/US/ˈlɛdʒɪtɪˌmaɪz/LE·git·i·mize
Band 6-7task2speaking
to make something lawful or acceptable; to give legitimacy
Examples
“The court's ruling helped legitimize the new policy.”
“Scholars argued that public consultation would legitimize the reform.”
“Some fear that the law could be used to legitimize discrimination.”
Band 8 sentence
“Transparent procedures and public endorsement are crucial to legitimize any major institutional reform.”
Collocations
- legitimize a policy
- legitimize authority
Word family
legitimize verblegitimacy nounlegitimate adjectivelegitimately adverb
Common mistakes
legalize / legalize it→legitimize
make it legitimate→legitimize it
Say it for a higher band
5make legal→6authorize→7+legitimize
Synonyms
authorize
validate
Easily confused
legalize
“The council's approval helped legitimize the controversial plan.”
Related words
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In -ize
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