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legit

Etymology and origin of the English word legit

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Clipping
First attested
1897
Ultimate origin
English (legitimate)

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ləˈdʒɪt/, /lɪˈdʒɪt/[1]

Etymology

It is a colloquial shortening of legitimate.[2][3][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

In the theatre, legitimate drama, plays of literary merit as opposed to variety: 1897 in Etymonline;[2] Green's first clear quotation of the noun is from 1900.[5]

Semantic evolution

The general adjective, legitimate or genuine, is first quoted by Green in 1905 in American English,[5] 1908 in Merriam-Webster,[3] and the adverb, legitimately (to work legit), from 1934.[5]

Timeline

  • 1897 – legitimate drama.[2]
  • 1905 – legitimate, genuine.[5]
  • 1934 – legitimately (adverb).[5]

Modern meaning

Adjective

  1. (informal) Legitimate; legal, honest or genuine.

Noun

  1. (informal) Legitimate or professionally respectable drama.

References

  1. ^ Jones, Daniel (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th ed., ed. Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
  2. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ a b Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  4. ^ Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b c d e Green, Jonathon (2010), Green's Dictionary of Slang, London: Chambers; digital ed. 2016–, https://greensdictofslang.com
Cite this entry

“Legit.” Etymologically, 17 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/legit. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

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