legitimize

Word family

Related topics: Children

le·git·i·mize (also legitimise British English) /lɪˈdʒɪtəmaɪz/ verb [transitiveT]

1 RIGHT/JUSTIFIEDto make something that is unfair or morally wrong seem acceptable and right 使〔不公平或不正当的事〕看起来可以接受，使显得正当

There is a danger that these films legitimize violence.

这些电影可能存在美化暴力的倾向。

2 LEGALto make something official or legal 使合法化

Acceptance by the UN would effectively legitimize the regime.

联合国的认可实际上就使这个政权合法化了。

3. SSCwhen parents legitimize a child, they get married so that the child becomes legitimate1(3) 赋予〔非婚生子女〕合法地位

Examples from the Corpus

legitimize• It is of value in education to legitimize and make productive use of interests.• He played a brief part in legitimizing black slavery.• The bottom line is, there is no stake in anyone legitimizing campaign financing.• Uganda's constitution still legitimized discrimination on the grounds of sex.• Unfortunately, material legitimizing drugs can be found in music, film, television, the Internet and mass market outlets.• The position, which still pertains, is as close as the Church has ever come to legitimizing family planning.• The National Salvation Front took power, later trying to legitimize its position with elections.• Crises can therefore be used to legitimize more strategic movement.• Elections will be held to legitimize the current regime.• The news media helped to legitimize the use of force by government troops.• Instead, they manipulated it to legitimize their own rule.

From Longman Business Dictionary

legitimizele·git·i·mize /lɪˈdʒɪtəmaɪz/ (also legitimise British EnglishBrE) verb [transitiveT]

1to make something legal or official that had not been before

He hopes to legitimize private ownership of toll roads in California.

2to make something acceptable or popular

Those scandals have legitimized selfishness.

Origin legitimize

(1800-1900) Latin legitimus; → LEGITIMATE

Chinese

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