legacy

[ leg-uh-see ]

/ ˈlɛg ə si /

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noun, plural leg·a·cies.

Law. a gift of property, especially personal property, such as money, by will; a bequest.

anything handed down from the past, as from an ancestor or predecessor: the legacy of ancient Rome.

an applicant to or student at the alma mater of their parent or parents.

Obsolete. the office, function, or commission of a legate.

adjective

of or relating to old or outdated computer hardware, software, or data that, while still functional, does not work well with up-to-date systems.

OTHER WORDS FOR legacy

1, 2 inheritance.

See synonyms for legacy on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of legacy

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English legacie “office of a deputy or legate” from Medieval Latin lēgātia. See legate, -acy

Words nearby legacy

leftward, leftwards, left wing, lefty, leg, legacy, legal, legal age, legal aid, legal aid society, legal cap

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use legacy in a sentence

All three actions directly threaten the legacy of Carl Stokes and that river fire back in 1969.
51 Years Later, the Cuyahoga River Burns Again|Wes Siler|August 28, 2020|Outside Online
Martinez told me the monitoring commitment is a huge victory for the workers, many of whom have since left Voyant but now “leave behind a legacy for their co-workers who remain.”
Temp Workers Fight Back Against Alleged Sexual Harassment and Say They Face Retaliation for Doing So|by Melissa Sanchez|August 28, 2020|ProPublica
Initially seen as a mere caretaker for the iconic franchise that Jobs built before his 2011 death, Cook has forged his own distinctive legacy.
Apple CEO Tim Cook is fulfilling another Steve Jobs vision|Rachel Schallom|August 24, 2020|Fortune
Part of that is because young shoppers do not care about legacy or the amount of time that brands have been around.
‘The new definition of luxury’: Highsnobiety unpacks how the landscape of high-end fashion has tilted toward accessibility|Kayleigh Barber|August 24, 2020|Digiday

Let’s hope we can renew those lost American conventions through this coming electoral season, honoring our legacy and ensuring our nation’s future as a unified people.
Departure from convention—mom, baseball, the postal worker, and patriotism|jakemeth|August 19, 2020|Fortune
Unfortunately, this is more about protecting the legacy of a ‘great man.’
Phylicia Rashad and the Cult of Cosby Truthers|Stereo Williams|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
I don't know why or who's doing it, but it's the legacy…and it's a legacy that is so important to the culture.
Phylicia Rashad and the Cult of Cosby Truthers|Stereo Williams|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The TVA, a federally owned and chartered electric power provider, is a New Deal legacy just like Social Security.
Steve Scalise Shows There’s a Fine Line Between Confederate & Southern|Lloyd Green|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Reconcile is a rapper from Houston, a city with a rich hip-hop legacy.
Down With the King: Christianity Isn’t Hiding in Rap’s Closet|Stereo Williams|December 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
With the midterm elections safely in the rearview mirror, Obama is on legacy patrol.
Obama’s One Hand Clap With Castro|Doug McIntyre|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
"These must be the legacy to our children," was the reply, in a grave and almost contrite tone.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXXXIX. January, 1844. Vol. LV.|Various
Each gave to the abbé some legacy of affection to be conveyed to loved ones who were to be left behind.
Madame Roland, Makers of History|John S. C. Abbott
Thus, should a person mentioned as legatee die before the testator, the legacy would be invalid.
Putnam's Handy Law Book for the Layman|Albert Sidney Bolles
The primitive church, indeed, treasured up these memories of moral heroism as her most precious legacy to after times.
The Catacombs of Rome|William Henry Withrow
He had another legacy to make over to him, a large iron case fastened with three iron locks.
Black Diamonds|Mr Jkai

British Dictionary definitions for legacy

legacy

/ (ˈlɛɡəsɪ) /

noun plural -cies

a gift by will, esp of money or personal property

something handed down or received from an ancestor or predecessor

(modifier) surviving computer systems, hardware, or softwarelegacy network; legacy application

Word Origin for legacy

C14 (meaning: office of a legate), C15 (meaning: bequest): from Medieval Latin lēgātia commission; see legate

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

legacy

OTHER WORDS FOR legacy

Origin of legacy

Words nearby legacy

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How to use legacy in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for legacy

Word Origin for legacy