legacy
LEH-guh-see
Legacy (noun) means Money or property left to someone in a will. Example: “She used her grandmother's legacy to start a small business.”
noun
1
Money or property left to someone in a will.
"She used her grandmother's legacy to start a small business."
"He was surprised to receive a small legacy from an uncle he barely knew."
"The solicitor explained that the legacy would be paid once the paperwork was finished."
2
Something handed down from the past, especially the lasting impact of a person or era.
"His legacy as a civil rights leader endures decades after his death."
"The bridge remains a legacy of the city's Victorian engineers."
"The old teacher left a legacy of kindness that her former pupils still talk about."
adj
1
Outdated but still in use, especially referring to old technology.
"The bank still relies on legacy software from the 1990s."
"Our legacy system is slow, but replacing it would take months of careful work."
"The hospital is gradually moving its records off legacy computers onto newer ones."
How to use legacy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething — money, achievements, or systems — left behind by someone or something earlier.
Common pairings
leave a legacy
legacy system
lasting legacy
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Word forms
- Plural
- legacies
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She used her grandmother's _____ to start a small business.
Etymology
From Old French legacie and Medieval Latin lēgātia, ultimately from Latin lēgātum, "something bequeathed."
Related words
Rhymes for legacy
See all rhymes for legacy →Frequently asked questions
What does “legacy” mean?
The word “legacy” means money or property left to someone in a will. In plain terms, something — money, achievements, or systems — left behind by someone or something earlier.
How do you pronounce “legacy”?
“Legacy” is pronounced LEH-guh-see (/ˈlɛɡəsi/ in IPA).
How do you use “legacy” in a sentence?
Here is “legacy” used in a sentence: “She used her grandmother's legacy to start a small business.”
What part of speech is “legacy”?
Depending on how it is used, “legacy” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “legacy” come from?
The word “legacy” comes from Medieval Latin. From Old French legacie and Medieval Latin lēgātia, ultimately from Latin lēgātum, "something bequeathed.".
Is “legacy” a common word?
“Legacy” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “legacy” have?
“Legacy” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: money or property left to someone in a will.
What is the difference between legacy and inheritance?
In a will, a legacy is a specific gift of money or property left to a named person, while an inheritance is everything someone receives from an estate. In broader use, "legacy" also covers the lasting non-material impact of a person or era, a sense "inheritance" rarely carries.
Why is old technology called legacy?
In computing and business, "legacy" describes systems or software handed down from an earlier period that are still in use. The label extends the word's core sense of something inherited from the past, and it often implies the technology is outdated but difficult to replace.
Is a legacy always positive?
No. A legacy is simply something handed down from the past, so it can be praised or condemned. People speak of a "proud legacy" as readily as a "legacy of debt" or a "legacy of mistrust."
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