Legitimacy

le·git·i·mate

: Lawfulness of birth; opposed to bastardy.

: Genuineness; opposed to spuriousness

le·git·i·macy : the quality or state of being legitimate

: lawfully begotten; specifically
: born in wedlock : having full filial rights at birth
: being exactly as purposed : neither spurious nor false
: accordant with law or with established legal forms and requirements
: ruling by or based on the strict principle of hereditary right

: conforming to recognized principles or accepted rules and standards

: relating to plays acted by professional actors but not including revues, burlesque, or

some forms of musical comedy <the legitimate theater>

synonym see LAWFUL

le·git·i·mate·ly

: Lawfulness of birth; opposed to bastardy.

: Genuineness; opposed to spuriousness. the legitimacy of his conclusions is not to be questioned.