NYT Dictionary

LEGITIMIZE

/ləˈd͡ʒɪtɪˌmaɪz/

Verble-GIT-i-mizele-git-i-mize · 4 syllablesGrade 8

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2019, 2022, 2024, 2025

Meaning

To make legitimate.

Etymology

Origin: Middle English

Etymology tree English legitimate Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íd͏̌d͏̌ō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō)bor. Late Latin -izōder. Middle French -iserbor. Middle English -isen English -ize English legitimize From legitimate + -ize.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

legitimatelegalizelegalisedecriminalizedecriminaliselegitimiselegitimatizelegitimatiseauthorizecertify

Antonyms

outlawcriminalizecriminalise

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 2 recorded puzzles, including a pangram:

2025-06-10TEMIGLZ
2024-06-11MEZTLGI