legitimate government

Cultural  

1. A government generally acknowledged as being in control of a nation and deserving formal recognition, which is symbolized by the exchange of diplomats between that government and the governments of other countries.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

legitimate government

A foreign ministry statement said Riyadh "continues to support the brotherly Yemeni people and their legitimate government."

From Barron's ● Jul. 21, 2026

Menendez explained that she needed more time to find the line between legitimate government activity and the unconstitutional “commandeering” of states by the federal government.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 5, 2026

And so, Roberts ruled, the court need only ask whether the health care ban is “rationally related to a legitimate government interest.”

From Slate ● Jun. 18, 2025

The UK government does not recognise the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan.

From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2024

"Thus public education, within laws prescribed by the government and under magistrates appointed by sovereign will, is one of the fundamental maxims of popular or legitimate government."

From The Ancient Regime by John Durand