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Authentic vs Legitimate - What's the difference?

authentic | legitimate |

As adjectives the difference between authentic and legitimate

is that authentic is of the same origin as claimed; genuine while legitimate is in accordance with the law or established legal forms and requirements; lawful.

As a verb legitimate is

to make legitimate, lawful, or valid; especially, to put in the position or state of a legitimate person before the law, by legal means.

authentic

English

Alternative forms

* authentical, authentick, authenticke, authentique (all archaic)

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Of the same origin as claimed; genuine.
    • The experts confirmed it was an authentic signature.
  • Conforming to reality and therefore worthy of trust, reliance, or belief.
    • The report was completely authentic .
    an authentic''' writer; an '''authentic''' portrait; '''authentic information
  • (music, of a Gregorian mode) Having the final as the lowest note of the mode.
  • (obsolete) authoritative
    • (Milton)

    Synonyms

    * (of the claimed origin) genuine, real, bonafide, bona fide, unfaked * (conforming to fact) reliable, trustworthy, credible, unfaked

    Antonyms

    * (not of the claimed origin) phony, fake; ingenuine

    Derived terms

    * authentically * authenticate * authentication * authenticity * authenticism * authenticist

    legitimate

    English

    Etymology 1

    From . Originally "lawfully begotten," from (etyl) legitimer and directly from

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • In accordance with the law or established legal forms and requirements; lawful.
  • *
  • Conforming to known principles, or established or accepted rules or standards; valid.
    • legitimate''' reasoning; a '''legitimate standard or method
  • * (rfdate) Macaulay
    • Tillotson still keeps his place as a legitimate English classic.
  • Authentic, real, genuine.
    • legitimate''' poems of Chaucer; '''legitimate inscriptions
  • (senseid)Lawfully begotten, i.e., born to a legally married couple.
  • Relating to hereditary rights.
    • Synonyms
    (checksyns) * lawful, legal, rightful
    Antonyms
    * illegitimate, false

    Etymology 2

    Legal Latin, from legitimatus, past participle of (legitimo). See above for antecedents

    Verb

    (legitimat)
  • To make legitimate, lawful, or valid; especially, to put in the position or state of a legitimate person before the law, by legal means.
    • Usage notes
    * Forms of (legitimize) are about twice as common as forms of the verb legitimate in the US. * Forms of legitimate are somewhat more common than the forms of the verbs (legitimize) and (legitimise) in the UK combined.
    Synonyms
    * legitimize
    Derived terms
    * delegitimate

    External links

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