legit
Plurallegits
- 1Really and literally what it seems or claims to be; of a person, honest and not a fake.
The tip sounded too good to be true, but the reporter confirmed that her source was legit.
Collectors want proof that a vintage jersey is legit before they pay thousands for it.
UsageMost often after be, look or sound: looks legit, sounds legit. Also before a noun: a legit source.
Similargenuine, authentic, real, honest, trustworthy
Oppositefake, phony, bogus, counterfeit
- 2Permitted by law or by the rules that apply, and therefore valid and legitimate.
Once he had the right permits, his food truck was finally legit.
Is a tie-breaking vote by the chair even legit under the club's rules?
UsageOften after be, or in go legit (start working within the law). Formal writing prefers legal or legitimate.
Similarlegal, valid, lawful, allowed, permitted
Oppositeillegal, unlawful, invalid, illegitimate
- 3Truly good, with every quality one would need or expect, and admired for being the real thing.
I watched a few of her repair videos, and she's legit; she really knows engines.
The hotel's rooftop bar is legit, with a view worth the price of every drink.
Similargreat, excellent, impressive, solid, awesome
Oppositemediocre
Note
This slang praise goes a step beyond the plain "genuine" meaning: when someone checks out a portfolio and says she's legit, the verdict is that she is real and good at it. The admiration comes from authenticity, which is why the word can also mean cool, the kind of cool that comes from being genuine.
- 4Used to stress that something is truly the case and is meant seriously and honestly.
She legit forgot her own birthday until we showed up with a cake.
The new roller coaster is legit terrifying, and I've ridden a lot of them.
UsageGoes right before what it stresses, like seriously: legit forgot, legit terrifying. Formal writing wants really or truly.
- 5By lawful, proper means, in a way that stays within the law.
After years of selling fake handbags, she now runs her business completely legit.
If you want to stream the game legit, you'll need to pay for a subscription.
UsageFollows the verb or its object: earn money legit, stream the game legit. Formal writing says legally.
Similarlegally, lawfully, properly
Oppositeillegally, unlawfully
Less common meanings
- 6Of a video game player or the way they play: not using cheats of any kind, such as cheat codes or hacking software.
The other team accused him of hacking, but the replay showed he was legit.
Moderators review every record-breaking run to make sure it's legit.
Similarclean
Note
Gamers reach for it when a performance looks too good: a player who moves or scores impossibly fast gets asked whether they are legit, meaning whether they did it without cheating. It narrows the "allowed by the rules" meaning to one rule, the ban on cheats and hacks, and it typically stands after a verb: I don't think they're legit.
- 7In theater slang, serious stage drama, the so-called legitimate theater, or an actor who works in it.
Note
Show business calls serious stage drama the legitimate theater, as distinct from vaudeville, burlesque and revues, and a legit is an actor of its spoken plays rather than of lighter entertainment or the screen.
- 8A child born to parents legally married to each other, or later legally given the same status.
Showing meanings only.
Practice
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Origin
A clipping of legitimate or legitimately.
Checked 3 Nov 2026 · 1 fact
- Legit is a clipping of legitimate or legitimately. en.wiktionary.org