Word
legacy
Phoneticslega·cy
US/ˈɫɛɡəsi/
UK/lˈɛɡəsi/
Definitions
01money or property in a will
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Law Formal
n. money or property that someone leaves to you when they die.
n. a gift of property or money bequeathed to an individual or organisation through a will.
“She used the legacy from her grandfather to pay for her university tuition.”
“The university received a substantial legacy from a former professor, which was immediately allocated to the new research wing.”
Usage
Often used with the verb 'leave' or 'receive'.
Synonyms
02historical impact
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. something that exists today because of what happened in the past.
n. the long-term consequences or cultural impact of a person, event, or period.
“The Olympic Games left a positive legacy of new sports facilities for the city.”
“Historians continue to debate the complex legacy of the colonial era and its influence on modern international relations.”
Teaching tip
This is the most common figurative use, often discussing the 'legacy of war' or a 'political legacy'.
03university admission
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Education American English
n. a student who gets special treatment at a university because their parents went there.
n. an applicant to a college or university who is given preference because an ancestor is an alumnus.
“He was considered a legacy at Harvard because both his father and grandfather had graduated from there.”
“The admissions board faced criticism for its policy of favouring legacies over applicants from underprivileged backgrounds.”
Usage
Usually functions as a countable noun referring to the person.
Teaching tip
This is a specific cultural term in the United States; it is rarely used in this sense in the UK or elsewhere.
04outdated technology
C1 · Advanced Computing Technical
adj. describes old software or equipment that is still being used even though better versions exist.
adj. referring to outdated computer systems, software, or hardware that remain in use because they are difficult or expensive to replace.
“The bank is struggling to update its legacy systems to work with modern mobile apps.”
“The transition to the cloud was delayed by the need to maintain compatibility with several legacy applications that the company still relied on.”
Usage
Always used before a noun.
Teaching tip
In business and IT, this often has a negative connotation of being slow or incompatible.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “legacy” in context.
Verb
01. grapple with a legacy
“The nation continues to grapple with the legacy of its colonial past.”
verb + prep + noun
02. leave a lasting legacy
“The outgoing CEO hoped to leave a lasting legacy of innovation and ethical leadership.”
verb + adj + noun
03. tarnish a legacy
“Recent scandals have threatened to tarnish the former president's legacy.”
verb + noun
Adjective
04. enduring legacy
“The artist's enduring legacy can be seen in the work of countless modern painters.”
adj + noun
05. mixed legacy
“Historians often debate his mixed legacy, weighing his economic successes against his social failures.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. legacy system
“The bank is struggling to migrate data from its outdated legacy system to the cloud.”
noun + noun
07. sense of legacy
“Many philanthropists are driven by a profound sense of legacy and a desire to give back.”
noun + of + noun
08. legacy media
In Japanese
inheritance; bequest; legacy
Japanese from JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0. All sources.
Real-World Examples
“A statement issued by the firm said "John lived a fantastic life full of laughter and hard work", adding he had a legacy "which will live on forever".” “The Department for Health added that where "legacy technologies" were still being used, any patient information should be "handled securely and in line with data protection requirements".” “It gives Smith a chance to “focus on the realities of situations and hope for a better future”, they say, more than focusing on their own legacy.” “Another legacy of Wagner’s desire for an ultra-immersive operatic experience has more doubtful value: unlike most major opera houses in the world today, Bayreuth has no surtitles.” Etymology
From Middle English legacie, from Old French legacie and Medieval Latin lēgātia, from Latin lēgātum.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/legacy
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0