Legitimated: meaning, definitions and examples

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legitimated

 

[ ləˈdʒɪtɪmeɪtɪd ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

legal status

Legitimated refers to the act of making something legitimate or lawful. This term is often used in a legal context where an action or condition is declared valid according to the law. For instance, in the case of children, to legitimatize a child means to officially recognize them as born within a lawful marriage, thereby giving them certain rights. The concept can also extend to various situations in society where actions are validated or sanctioned, ultimately establishing their legality or acceptance. The act of legitimating can vary significantly in its implications depending on the specific legal frameworks it operates within.

Synonyms

authorized, recognized, sanctioned, validated

Examples of usage

  • The child was legitimated by the court.
  • Legitimated unions often receive certain legal benefits.
  • The law legitimated his claim to the inheritance.

Translations

Translations of the word "legitimated" in other languages:

🇵🇹 legitimado

🇮🇳 वैध

🇩🇪 legitimiert

🇮🇩 dilegalkan

🇺🇦 легітимізований

🇵🇱 legitymizowany

🇯🇵 合法化された

🇫🇷 légitimé

🇪🇸 legitimado

🇹🇷 meşrulaştırılmış

🇰🇷 합법화된

🇸🇦 شرعي

🇨🇿 legitimizovaný

🇸🇰 legitimizovaný

🇨🇳 合法化的

🇸🇮 legitimiziran

🇮🇸 lögmætur

🇰🇿 заңдастырылған

🇬🇪 ლეგიტიმირებული

🇦🇿 legitimləşdirilmiş

🇲🇽 legitimado

Etymology

The term 'legitimate' comes from the Latin word 'legitimus', which means 'lawful' or 'according to the law'. This Latin root itself is derived from 'lex', meaning 'law'. The word's usage evolved throughout the centuries, initially applying strictly to legal contexts. Over time, 'legitimate' and its variations, like 'legitimated', began to encompass broader meanings, including the idea of social acceptance and authenticity. The usage spread, and today it is not only part of legal jargon but also frequently appears in discussions about moral and ethical validation, tying back to its original association with legality. Thus, the evolution of 'legitimated' reflects changing societal norms about what is accepted or recognized as appropriate or rightful.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #26,160, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.