legitimacy
7 antonyms and opposites of legitimacy, grouped by meaning.
Noun — The state of being lawful, valid, or generally accepted as proper.
Antonyms
How to use legitimacy
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From legitimate plus the noun-forming suffix -cy.
Full origin of legitimacy →Frequently asked questions
What does “legitimacy” mean?
The word “legitimacy” means the state of being lawful, valid, or generally accepted as proper. In plain terms, legitimacy is the quality of being lawful, genuine, or properly justified, so that people accept it as valid.
How do you pronounce “legitimacy”?
“Legitimacy” is pronounced luh-JIH-tih-muh-see (/ləˈd͡ʒɪtɪməsi/ in IPA).
How do you use “legitimacy” in a sentence?
Here is “legitimacy” used in a sentence: “The election results gave the new government legitimacy.”
What is another word for “legitimacy”?
Words with a similar meaning to “legitimacy” include legitimateness, allowability, allowableness, liceity, legitness and permissibility.
What is the opposite of “legitimacy”?
The opposite of “legitimacy” — its antonyms — are illegitimacy, illegitimateness, invalidity, invalidness and nonlegitimacy.
What part of speech is “legitimacy”?
“Legitimacy” is a noun.
Is “legitimacy” a common word?
“Legitimacy” is an uncommon word in modern English.
What is the difference between legitimacy and legality?
Legality refers strictly to whether something complies with the law, while legitimacy is broader and includes being generally accepted as proper, fair, or valid, even in contexts without formal legal rules. A government's actions can be legal but still lack legitimacy if the public does not view them as rightful.
How is legitimacy used in politics?
In politics, legitimacy describes the extent to which a government, leader, or institution is accepted by the people as having the rightful authority to govern. A government can lose legitimacy through corruption, fraud, or loss of public trust even if it remains legally in power.
What does it mean to question the legitimacy of something?
Questioning the legitimacy of something means challenging whether it is genuinely lawful, valid, or properly recognized, rather than accepting its authority or authenticity at face value. This can apply to elections, documents, claims, or institutions.