ENGLISH
REFERENCE

legitimacy

n.
US //ɫəˈdʒɪtəməsi// UK //lədʒˈɪtɪməsi// le·git·i·ma·cy
  1. 1 validity or fairness (n.)
    C1 Advanced Academic

    the quality of being reasonable, fair, or acceptable to people.

    the quality of being justifiable or acceptable according to social standards or logic.

    Example

    The public questioned the legitimacy of the new law because it seemed unfair.

    Example

    The administration struggled to maintain its legitimacy after several high-profile scandals eroded the public's trust in the democratic process.

    Usage

    Often used with the preposition 'of'.
    • invalidity
  2. 2 legal status (n.)
    C1 Advanced Formal Technical Law

    the state of being legal or following the law.

    the state of being lawful or conforming to established legal rules.

    Example

    The court had to decide on the legitimacy of the contract signed last year.

    Example

    Legal scholars debated the legitimacy of the tribunal, arguing that it lacked the necessary international mandate to prosecute the defendants.
    • illegality
  3. 3 birth or succession (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Formal Literary History

    the legal status of being born to parents who are married, especially regarding royal titles.

    the status of being born in wedlock or having a valid claim to a title through direct descent.

    Example

    The prince had to prove his legitimacy to claim the throne after the king died.

    Example

    The succession crisis was fueled by rumors regarding the legitimacy of the heir, leading to a prolonged civil war between rival factions.
    • illegitimacy
Origin

From legitimate + -cy.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Last updated June 20, 2026