legitimacy

American  

[li-jit-uh-muh-see] / lɪˈdʒɪt ə mə si /

noun

1. the state or quality of being legitimate.

   Synonyms:

   rightfulness, legality, lawfulness

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Other Word Forms

• nonlegitimacy noun

Etymology

Origin of legitimacy

First recorded in 1685–95; legitim(ate) + -acy

Example Sentences

All these market phenomena are challenging the legitimacy of long-term investing.

From Barron's

It stemmed from advice the band received from their immigration attorney—a recurring character in their videos—who told them the threshold would help establish their legitimacy with the government.

From The Wall Street Journal

Through this arrangement, the legitimacy of tariffs and taxes would be based on voters’ approval – if the people weren’t happy, they could act through the ballot box.

From Salon

Her departure came as the federal judges of eastern Virginia increasingly questioned the legitimacy of her role within the Justice Department.

From The Wall Street Journal

Rosenbaum said the past year had "revealed that the old system had less legitimacy and was more fragile than I had understood, than was widely understood."

From Barron's

Related Words

• authority
• justice
• validity