legitimacy
Americannoun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of legitimacy
First recorded in 1685–95; legitim(ate) + -acy
Explanation
The noun legitimacy means authenticity. If you found an old copy of the Gettysburg Address in your grandmother's attic, you'd have to question its legitimacy when you realized it was written on the back of a car advertisement. Legitimacy comes from the Latin verb legitimare, which means lawful. Legitimacy, then, refers to something that is legal because it meets the specific requirements of the law. The legitimacy of various countries' presidential elections is often discussed, with monitors keeping track of the voting procedures to make sure they follow all the necessary rules.
Vocabulary lists containing legitimacy
Power Suffix: -acy
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
For the M23 rebels, his involvement brings the experience and networks of a former head of state to a movement whose military advances have yet to translate into broad national legitimacy.
From BBC ● Oct. 31, 2026
Or is there some legitimacy to this investigation?
From Slate ● Oct. 13, 2026
Regulators warn that respected community or religious figures can sometimes lend legitimacy to financial opportunities without realizing they are doing so.
From Salon ● Sep. 26, 2026
Berkeley’s founding in 1868 was California’s bid for civic and economic legitimacy, initially constructed on the federal government’s support of land-grant universities that taught agriculture and mining.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026
A woman who won all social battles with presence and a conviction of the legitimacy of her authority.
From "Sula" by Toni Morrison
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
