Legitimate vs Legitimize: Meaning And Differences

When it comes to using the words legitimate and legitimize, many people often get confused and use them interchangeably. However, there is a distinct difference between the two words that should not be ignored. In this article, we will explore the meanings of legitimate and legitimize, and when it is appropriate to use each.

Legitimate and legitimize are both words that relate to the concept of legality and validity. However, legitimate is an adjective that describes something that is lawful, rightful, or genuine. On the other hand, legitimize is a verb that means to make something legitimate or to give it legal or valid status.

For example, if you have a legitimate reason for not attending a meeting, it means that your reason is valid and acceptable. However, if you want to legitimize your business, it means that you want to make it legal and recognized by the government.

It is important to note that while legitimate can be used as a verb, it is not interchangeable with legitimize. Legitimate as a verb means to make something legal or rightful, while legitimize means to give something legal or valid status.

In the following sections, we will delve deeper into the meanings of legitimate and legitimize, and provide examples of how to use them correctly in different contexts.

Define Legitimate

Legitimate is an adjective that describes something that is lawful, rightful, and in accordance with established rules and principles. It refers to an action, behavior, or situation that is considered valid, genuine, and authentic. In the context of business, legitimate can refer to a company or enterprise that operates legally and ethically, without engaging in fraudulent or illegal practices.

For example, a legitimate business is one that has obtained all the necessary licenses and permits to operate, pays its taxes, and complies with all the relevant laws and regulations. Legitimate can also refer to a product or service that is genuine and of high quality, without any false claims or misrepresentations.

Define Legitimize

Legitimize is a verb that means to make something legitimate or acceptable, especially in the eyes of the law or society. It refers to the process of giving something a legal or moral basis, or of justifying something that was previously considered illegitimate or unacceptable.

For example, a government may legitimize a previously illegal activity by passing a law that decriminalizes it. Similarly, a company may seek to legitimize its operations by obtaining certifications or endorsements from reputable organizations. Legitimize can also refer to the act of making something socially acceptable or mainstream, such as a new fashion trend or cultural practice.

How To Properly Use The Words In A Sentence

When it comes to using the words “legitimate” and “legitimize” in a sentence, it’s important to understand the nuances of each word. While they may seem similar, they have distinct meanings and should be used appropriately to convey the intended message.

How To Use “Legitimate” In A Sentence

“Legitimate” is an adjective that means something is lawful, genuine, or valid. Here are some examples of how to use “legitimate” in a sentence:

• The company has a legitimate claim to the property.
• She has a legitimate reason for being late to the meeting.
• The product is legitimate and has been tested for safety.

As you can see, “legitimate” is used to describe something that is legal, true, or authentic. It can also be used to describe a person’s actions or behavior as being justified or reasonable.

How To Use “Legitimize” In A Sentence

“Legitimize” is a verb that means to make something legitimate or acceptable. Here are some examples of how to use “legitimize” in a sentence:

• The new law will legitimize the use of medical marijuana.
• Winning the award will legitimize her career in the art world.
• The government hopes to legitimize the election process by increasing transparency.

As you can see, “legitimize” is used to describe the act of making something valid or acceptable. It is often used in the context of making something legal or socially acceptable.

Overall, it’s important to use “legitimate” and “legitimize” correctly in a sentence to avoid confusion and accurately convey the intended meaning.

More Examples Of Legitimate & Legitimize Used In Sentences

In order to fully understand the nuances of the words “legitimate” and “legitimize,” it can be helpful to see them used in context. Here are some examples of how these words can be used in a sentence:

Examples Of Using Legitimate In A Sentence

• The company’s decision to donate a portion of their profits to charity was seen as a legitimate way to give back to the community.
• After completing the required training, the employee was finally considered a legitimate member of the team.
• The government’s plan to increase taxes was met with skepticism, as many people felt it was not a legitimate way to raise revenue.
• The artist’s work was widely praised as legitimate art, despite some critics dismissing it as mere pretension.
• Many people were surprised to learn that the online store was a legitimate business, as it had previously been dismissed as a scam.
• The athlete’s use of performance-enhancing drugs was a clear violation of the legitimate rules of the sport.
• Some people argue that the death penalty is not a legitimate form of punishment, as it is irreversible and can be applied unfairly.
• The company’s claim that their product was made from all-natural ingredients was later found to be legitimate, after independent testing confirmed it.
• The group’s concerns about climate change were dismissed by some as not legitimate, but many others agreed with their message.
• Many people feel that the government’s surveillance program is a legitimate way to protect national security, while others argue that it violates privacy rights.

Examples Of Using Legitimize In A Sentence

• The new law was designed to legitimize the use of medical marijuana, which had previously been illegal.
• The company’s decision to hire a well-known celebrity as their spokesperson was seen as an attempt to legitimize their brand.
• By getting a degree from a respected university, the student hoped to legitimize his qualifications and improve his job prospects.
• Some people argue that by participating in the election, they are legitimizing a corrupt system that they do not believe in.
• The company’s decision to open a new office in a prestigious location was seen as an attempt to legitimize their business.
• The new leader’s first act was to legitimize her authority by winning the support of key members of the organization.
• The artist’s decision to exhibit her work in a well-known gallery helped to legitimize her as a serious artist.
• By gaining the endorsement of a respected industry association, the startup hoped to legitimize their new product.
• The government’s decision to negotiate with the rebels was seen as an attempt to legitimize their cause and bring an end to the conflict.
• Some people feel that by participating in the mainstream media, they are legitimizing a biased and corrupt system.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

When it comes to using the words “legitimate” and “legitimize,” there are some common mistakes that people often make. These mistakes can lead to confusion and miscommunication, so it’s important to understand the differences between the two words and how to use them correctly.

Interchanging “Legitimate” And “Legitimize”

One of the most common mistakes people make is using “legitimate” and “legitimize” interchangeably. While these words may sound similar, they have very different meanings.

Legitimate means something that is lawful, valid, or genuine. For example, “The company’s business practices are legitimate.”

Legitimize, on the other hand, means to make something legitimate or to give it legal or moral approval. For example, “The new law will legitimize the use of medical marijuana.”

Using these words interchangeably can lead to confusion and misinterpretation. For example, saying “The company’s business practices will be legitimized by the new law” would suggest that the practices were not legitimate before, which may not be the intended meaning.

Tips To Avoid Confusion

To avoid confusion, it’s important to use these words correctly. Here are some tips:

• Remember that “legitimate” refers to something that is lawful, valid, or genuine.
• Remember that “legitimize” refers to making something legitimate or giving it legal or moral approval.
• If you’re unsure which word to use, consult a dictionary or thesaurus to confirm the correct meaning.

By following these tips, you can avoid common mistakes and ensure that your communication is clear and effective.

Context Matters

When it comes to choosing between the words “legitimate” and “legitimize,” the context in which they are used plays a crucial role. While both words are related, they have different meanings and implications depending on the situation.

Legitimate

The word “legitimate” is an adjective that means something is lawful, valid, or accepted as true or genuine. It is often used to describe something that is considered to be authentic, legal, or rightful. For example:

• Legitimate business practices
• Legitimate concerns
• Legitimate reasons

Here, the word “legitimate” is used to describe something that is considered to be genuine or lawful. It implies that the thing in question is valid and accepted by society or a particular group of people.

Legitimize

The word “legitimize,” on the other hand, is a verb that means to make something legitimate or lawful. It is often used to describe the act of making something acceptable or valid. For example:

• Legitimize a business
• Legitimize a claim
• Legitimize a government

Here, the word “legitimize” is used to describe the act of making something legitimate or lawful. It implies that the thing in question was not previously considered to be genuine or lawful, but has now been made so.

Context Matters

The choice between “legitimate” and “legitimize” can depend on the context in which they are used. For example, if you are talking about a business that is considered to be legitimate, you would use the word “legitimate” as an adjective. However, if you are talking about the process of making a business legitimate, you would use the word “legitimize” as a verb.

Here are some other examples:

Context	Word Choice
Legitimate business practices	Legitimate
Legitimize a business	Legitimize
Legitimate concerns	Legitimate
Legitimize a claim	Legitimize
Legitimate reasons	Legitimate
Legitimize a government	Legitimize

As you can see from these examples, the choice between “legitimate” and “legitimize” can depend on the context in which they are used. It is important to understand the difference between these words and to use them appropriately to convey the intended meaning.

Exceptions To The Rules

While the use of legitimate and legitimize follows a set of rules, there are some exceptions where these rules might not apply. Here are some explanations and examples for each case:

1. Legitimate As A Verb

While legitimate is primarily used as an adjective, it can also be used as a verb to mean “to make legitimate or lawful.” In this case, the word legitimize can also be used interchangeably. For example:

• The government decided to legitimate the use of medicinal marijuana.
• The government decided to legitimize the use of medicinal marijuana.

2. Legitimize As An Adjective

While legitimize is primarily used as a verb, it can also be used as an adjective to mean “legitimate or valid.” In this case, the word legitimate can also be used interchangeably. For example:

• After years of hard work, he finally received his legitimize degree.
• After years of hard work, he finally received his legitimate degree.

3. Colloquial Use

In some cases, the colloquial use of legitimate and legitimize might not follow the standard rules. For example:

• He’s a legit basketball player.
• That’s a legitimate concern.

In these cases, the words legitimate and legitimize are used to mean “real” or “genuine,” even though they are not being used in their standard forms.

Practice Exercises

One of the best ways to improve your understanding and use of legitimate and legitimize is through practice. Below are some exercises to help you do just that:

Exercise 1: Fill In The Blank

Choose the correct word (legitimate or legitimize) to fill in the blank in each of the following sentences:

1. The company’s actions were completely ____________.
2. It’s important to ____________ your business in the eyes of your customers.
3. She had to prove that her claim was ____________.
4. The government is working to ____________ the use of renewable energy sources.
5. He wanted to ____________ his position as the leader of the group.

Answers:

1. legitimate
2. legitimize
3. legitimate
4. legitimize
5. legitimize

Exercise 2: Use It In A Sentence

Write a sentence using either legitimate or legitimize that demonstrates your understanding of the word’s meaning.

Example: The company’s use of sustainable materials helped legitimize their commitment to the environment.

Explanation: In this sentence, legitimize means to make something seem legitimate or acceptable.

Conclusion

In conclusion, understanding the difference between “legitimate” and “legitimize” is crucial for effective communication. The two words may seem similar, but their meanings are quite different.

Firstly, “legitimate” is an adjective that describes something that is lawful, valid, and acceptable. It is used to describe actions, behaviors, or ideas that are in accordance with established rules or principles. For example, a legitimate business is one that operates within the confines of the law and regulations.

On the other hand, “legitimize” is a verb that means to make something legitimate or acceptable. It is used to describe the act of validating or justifying something that may not have been considered acceptable before. For example, a government may legitimize a previously banned political party by allowing it to participate in elections.

It is important to use these words correctly in order to avoid confusion and miscommunication. Using “legitimate” instead of “legitimize” or vice versa can completely change the meaning of a sentence.

Therefore, it is recommended that writers and speakers take the time to understand the nuances of these words and use them appropriately. By doing so, they can ensure that their message is clear and effective.

Key Takeaways

• “Legitimate” is an adjective that describes something that is lawful, valid, and acceptable.
• “Legitimize” is a verb that means to make something legitimate or acceptable.
• Using these words correctly is important to avoid confusion and miscommunication.

Continue Learning

For those interested in improving their grammar and language use, there are many resources available online. Websites such as Grammarly and Oxford Dictionaries offer helpful tips and tools for writers and speakers. Additionally, reading widely and practicing writing and speaking can also improve language skills.