Word
legitimacy
Phoneticsle·git·i·ma·cy
US/ɫəˈdʒɪtəməsi/
UK/lədʒˈɪtɪməsi/
Definitions
01validity or fairness
n. the quality of being reasonable, fair, or acceptable to people.
n. the quality of being justifiable or acceptable according to social standards or logic.
“The public questioned the legitimacy of the new law because it seemed unfair.”
“The administration struggled to maintain its legitimacy after several high-profile scandals eroded the public's trust in the democratic process.”
Academic
Usage
Often used with the preposition 'of'.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02legal status
n. the state of being legal or following the law.
n. the state of being lawful or conforming to established legal rules.
“The court had to decide on the legitimacy of the contract signed last year.”
“Legal scholars debated the legitimacy of the tribunal, arguing that it lacked the necessary international mandate to prosecute the defendants.”
Formal · Technical
Synonyms
Antonyms
03birth or succession
n. the legal status of being born to parents who are married, especially regarding royal titles.
n. the status of being born in wedlock or having a valid claim to a title through direct descent.
“The prince had to prove his legitimacy to claim the throne after the king died.”
“The succession crisis was fueled by rumors regarding the legitimacy of the heir, leading to a prolonged civil war between rival factions.”
Formal · Literary
Synonyms
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“If Syrian forces appear to be fighting on behalf of foreign powers, the leadership could lose domestic and regional legitimacy that would be difficult to restore.” “He denied he was attempting to provide “a veneer of legitimacy” to the contract.” Etymology
From legitimate + -cy.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
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englishreference.com/q/legitimacy