1. making something legitimate, lawful, or acceptable; conferring legitimacy on
Usage: present participle of legitimatize; formal/academic register

Examples

• The government is legitimatizing the new regulatory framework through official legislation.
• Critics argue that the media is legitimatizing fringe political movements by giving them airtime.
• The university's accreditation process is legitimatizing the online degree program.
• By publishing peer-reviewed research, scientists are legitimatizing their findings.
• The treaty is legitimatizing territorial claims that were previously disputed.
• Educational institutions play a role in legitimatizing certain knowledge and practices.