legitimately

/ləˈdʒɪtəmətli/
adverb
  1. In a way that is allowed or recognized by law or rules.
    • The company operates legitimately in all fifty states.
    • You can only park here legitimately if you have a permit.
    • The money was earned legitimately through hard work.
  2. In a reasonable, acceptable, or justifiable way.
    • He legitimately worried about losing his job during the crisis.
    • She can legitimately claim that she was not informed of the change.
    • The teacher legitimately questioned the student's excuse.
  3. Truly or genuinely; without doubt.
    • I am legitimately excited about the concert tonight.
    • She was legitimately surprised by the party.
    • That is a legitimately difficult math problem.
What does "legitimately" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean