noun
Uncommon
legitimacy
luh-JIH-tih-muh-see
Legitimacy (noun) means the state of being lawful, valid, or generally accepted as proper. Example: “The election results gave the new government legitimacy.”
noun
1
The state of being lawful, valid, or generally accepted as proper.
"The election results gave the new government legitimacy."
"Critics questioned the legitimacy of the contract."
"A signed letter from the museum gave the old painting real legitimacy."
How to use legitimacy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishLegitimacy is the quality of being lawful, genuine, or properly justified, so that people accept it as valid.
Common pairings
question the legitimacy
political legitimacy
lend legitimacy to
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Word forms
- Plural
- legitimacies
Fill the gap
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The election results gave the new government _____.
Etymology
From legitimate plus the noun-forming suffix -cy.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for legitimacy
See all rhymes for 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.
