Legit
/luh-JIT; also lih-JIT/adjective · adverb
Meaning
Legit is an informal shortening of legitimate. It can mean legal or valid, authentic rather than fake, trustworthy, or impressively good. Used before a verb or description, it adds emphasis similar to actually, genuinely, or seriously.[2][3][4]
- 1. Legal, permitted, or consistent with the rules.
- 2. Real, authentic, trustworthy, or not a scam.
- 3. Genuinely skilled, impressive, or high-quality.
- 4. Used as an adverb meaning actually, genuinely, or seriously.
Examples
“That resale link looks legit.”
“This ramen spot is legit.”
“I legit forgot the meeting started at nine.”
“Is that autograph legit or just a print?”
“That shortcut legit saved us twenty minutes.”
Origin and spread
Legit is a clipping of legitimate. The earliest documented form appeared in American theater language in 1897, initially as a noun for an actor associated with legitimate drama; that specialized theater label was a precursor, not the full modern slang sense. An adjective use is documented by 1908. During the 20th century, the shortened form broadened to mean lawful, valid, genuine, and eventually genuinely good. Adverbial constructions such as I legit forgot were circulating online by 2010, when some usage commentators still considered them too new for standard references; they have since entered major dictionaries.[1][4]
How to use it
Legit is casual and common in conversation, captions, comments, and messages. As praise, it suggests that something lives up to the hype; as a question—Legit?—it asks whether a claim, product, or account can be trusted. Before a verb, it intensifies the statement and may sound excited, surprised, or defensive. Use legitimate, genuine, or actually when a formal tone is needed. Do not confuse legit with the separate British phrase leg it, meaning to run away or leave quickly.
Sources
- 1. Online Etymology Dictionary — Origin and history of legitSupports: form, origin.
- 2. Wiktionary — legitSupports: form, meaning.
- 3. Cambridge English Dictionary — Meaning of legit in EnglishSupports: meaning.
- 4. Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary — legitSupports: meaning, origin.
- 5. The Grammarphobia Blog — Is “legit” legitimate?Supports: earliest documented use.
