Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (orig. US, also ligit) legitimate, and as such the description of anything that, in context, might be considered as otherwise.

1905		F. Hutchison Philosophy of Johnny the Gent 18: did ever they steer you in to look at one o’ them legit actors that's supposed to be the real goods?
1923		G. Marx letter 16 Aug. in Groucho Letters (1967) 147: He went smack into a vaudeville monologue he used to do before he clicked as a legit actor on Broadway.
1939		W. Winchell ‘On Broadway’ 28 Nov. [synd. col.] The legislature at Albany may okay bars in theaters and smoking balconies of legit houses.
1946		Mezzrow & Wolfe Really the Blues 21: Sid would rather have his throat cut than push them at legit prices.
1953		Kramer & Karr Teen-Age Gangs 148: You go over there on a ligit mission, maybe to see a fellow you know, and they’d question you.
1956		‘Raymond Thorp’ Viper 93: Louise did some modelling, some of it legit.
1967		H.S. Thompson letter 21 March in Proud Highway (1997) 607: You’ll have to convince her that your request is legit.
1975		E. Torres Carlito’s Way 12: How’d I exist on the street? Sometimes legit.
1977		(con. 1960s) D. Goines Black Gangster (1991) 96: What we got to do is go legit.
1989		(con. 1950s–60s) in G. Tremlett Little Legs 133: I’ve had bent cars, but this was legit.
1997		N. Barlay Curvy Lovebox 127: It’s all legit. Totally legit. We’re hitched.
2002		J. Cameron Hell on Hoe Street 95: Always some chance the geezer was legit.
2007		UGK ‘Gravy’ 🎵 Every girl around me legit, I don’t fuck around with no punks.
2010		(con. 1973) C. Stella Johnny Porno 101: You talking legit or under the table.
2012		(con. 1943) G.S. Manson Irish Fandango [ebook] ‘Anyway, what are ya worried about? The ban’s [i.e. on communists] been lifted; they’re legit’.
2017		1011 ‘Kill Confirmed’ 🎵 The 3-double-o [i.e. a 300cc moped] ain’t lidge.
2022		J. Hannaham Didn’t Nobody Give a Shit 123: I cannot believe I got a actual interview right out the gate in a legit place.

2. (orig. US) of a person, respectable, trustworthy.

1937		R.B. Nye ‘A Musician’s Word List’ in AS XII:1 47: He can’t swing; he’s too legit.
1951		D. Dressler Parole Chief 124: He’s not really been legit since he left Elmira Reformatory.
1961		J. Scarne Complete Guide to Gambling 684: Legit guy – a person who has no underworld connections.
1961		T. Taylor Baron’s Court All Change (2011) 110: ‘[She] went semi-legit in opening this club of hers’.
1972		Milner & Milner Black Players 241: ‘Legit’ members of society are blind to their own games and those of their fellows precisely because they are considered ‘legitimate’ by the majority.
1981		J. Wambaugh Glitter Dome (1982) 178: He was legit, she figgered.
1993		J. Mowry Six Out Seven (1994) 323: Goin legit with rat-control, man?
2004		Dizzee Rascal ‘Respect Me’ 🎵 I’m l-e-g-i-t / You ain’t got nothin’ on me.
2016		D. Whish-Wilson Old Scores [ebook] ‘Sounds like he might be legit. I’ll find out’.
2018		‘Aidan Truhen’ Price You Pay 20: Some kind of spa [...] Yet another layer keeping me away from the bad, making me look legit.
2019		D. Winslow Border [ebook] And you want to see if I’m legit.
2021		L. McInerney Rules of Revelation 219: I thought first it was going to be like Dan’s old office – not exactly a hotspot of lawful enterprise – but no, she’s legit.
2024		J. Meades Empty Wigs (t/s) 113: You got a considerable through-put of more legit... goes without saying. Not everyone’s suss.

3. (US black) authentic; talented.

1995

L. Stavsky et al. A2Z.

4. (US campus) admirable, noteworthy.

2014		C. Eble (ed.) UNC-CH Campus Sl. Spring 2014 9: LEGIT — legitimate up to or exceeding standards, impressive.
2019		S.M. Jones Lives Laid Away [ebook] ‘I had to make sure you was legit’.

5. (UK black) as term of affirmation, e.g. really, definitely.

2018-20

T. Thorne (ed.) ‘Drill Slang Glossary’ at Forensic Linguistic Databank 🌐 Legit - - affirmation of truth, ‘really!’ or ‘really?’.