legitimacy
Americannoun
Other Word Forms
- nonlegitimacy noun
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.
"The party understands that legitimacy in Vietnam is ultimately built on delivered living standards," said Hanoi-based Dan Martin, from Asian business advisory firm Dezan Shira & Associates.
From Barron's • Apr. 8, 2026
Legal experts have voiced concerns over the legitimacy of the God Squad’s actions, questioning the lack of state involvement or public transparency.
From Salon • Apr. 7, 2026
Reports say this careful selection of judges, representing different genders, religions, castes and regions, will help "lend wider legitimacy to a verdict that will inevitably traverse contested terrain".
From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026
Levy: I knew that the matriarch of this family was so important to the legitimacy of this.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026
A year after his father died, Kim Jong Eun solidified his legitimacy and his hold on power with the successful launch of a three-stage rocket that put a satellite into orbit.
From "Escape from Camp 14: One Man's Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West" by Blaine Harden
Definitions 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.
