Definitions
- Referring to something that is authorized or permitted by law. - Talking about actions or behaviors that conform to the law. - Describing something that is recognized or established by law.
- Referring to something that is lawful, valid, or genuine. - Talking about actions or behaviors that are reasonable, justified, or acceptable. - Describing something that is based on sound reasoning or evidence.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words relate to conformity with rules or standards.
- 2Both words imply a sense of validity or acceptability.
- 3Both words can be used to describe actions, behaviors, or things.
What is the difference?
- 1Scope: Legal refers specifically to conformity with the law, while legitimate can refer to a broader sense of acceptability or justification.
- 2Authority: Legal implies conformity with established laws or regulations, while legitimate implies conformity with accepted norms or standards.
- 3Usage: Legal is more commonly used in formal contexts such as legal documents or official statements, while legitimate is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
- 4Connotation: Legal can have a neutral or negative connotation, while legitimate generally has a positive connotation.
Remember this!
Legal and legitimate are synonyms that relate to conformity with rules or standards. However, the difference between them lies in their origin, scope, authority, usage, and connotation. Legal specifically refers to conformity with the law, while legitimate can refer to a broader sense of acceptability or justification. Legal is more commonly used in formal contexts, while legitimate is more versatile and has a generally positive connotation.
