legitimate fear

collocation in English

meaningsoflegitimateandfear

These words are often used together. Click on the links below to explore the meanings. Or,see other collocations withfear.
legitimate
adjective
uk
/ləˈdʒɪt.ə.mət/us
/ləˈdʒɪt̬.ə.mət/
allowed ...
See more atlegitimate
fear
noun[C or U]
uk
/fɪər/us
/fɪr/
an unpleasant emotion or thought that you have when you are frightened or worried by something dangerous, painful, or bad that is happening or ...
See more atfear

(Definition oflegitimateandfearfrom theCambridge English Dictionary© Cambridge University Press)

Examplesoflegitimate fear

These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
It is alegitimatefearof the developing world that countries with large trade volumes will be able to dictate even wider agendas than before.
From theCambridge English Corpus
However, we have alegitimatefear, based on the experience of other countries, that that might not always remain the case.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
We have repeatedly stressed the dockers'legitimatefearof a return to casualisation.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
If someone has alegitimatefearof persecution, they flee abroad and try to seek asylum.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
There is therefore alegitimatefearthat, as a result, drivers and companies will regularly be tempted not to comply with the statutory standards.
FromEuroparl Parallel Corpus - English
Unlike other provisions, these measures will not create thelegitimatefearthat bodies will take up such activities in a cavalier fashion.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
The position in the industrial field, for instance, is that there islegitimatefearthat our nation's very industrial base is being permanently undermined.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
I understood him to say that the fear of a growing taxation was a verylegitimatefear.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Will that meet that verylegitimatefearand worry?
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
There is alegitimatefearthat in their struggle for survival the wine growers will be lured by subsidies into destroying their vineyards.
FromEuroparl Parallel Corpus - English
It is a major step for someone with alegitimatefearto seek refuge in exile.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
It is a small point, but it was felt to be alegitimatefear, and it is covered by this paragraph.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
The argument has two bases: one is the fear that this is a dangerous precedent—that is alegitimatefear—and the other is a fear of the unknown.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
That is alegitimatefear.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
It was alegitimatefear.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Just as it attracts those with alegitimatefearof oppression who hope to build a new life, it also, unfortunately, draws in the unscrupulous, bogus applicant.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
This is a verylegitimatefear.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
We had to deal not just with the legitimate fears of the medical profession but with a great deal of ghosts and bogey men.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
I am in favour of meeting legitimate fears but not of knocking down ninepins.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Exaggerated responses, even to legitimate fears, are signs of pathological abnormality and defence expenditure thus based is self-defeating.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
Want to learn more?
Go to the definition oflegitimate
Go to the definition offear
See other collocations withfear