legitimacy
Americannoun
Other Word Forms
- nonlegitimacy noun
Etymology
Origin of legitimacy
First recorded in 1685–95; legitim(ate) + -acy
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.
Gathering public input is fundamental to the legitimacy of regulatory agencies.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026
But in August 2013, a group of researchers, led by Irving Weissman of the Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine at Stanford University, published a paper questioning the legitimacy of Ratajczak’s claim.
From Slate • Mar. 30, 2026
They agree to attach their names to “How’s That?!” to lend it legitimacy, and are virtually powerless to affect the plots generated by a program their network has deceptively nicknamed Al.
From Salon • Mar. 26, 2026
Their popular legitimacy among Yemenis rose to new heights, all but cementing their presence in Yemeni national politics for decades.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 16, 2026
What was taken by outsiders to be slackness, slovenliness or even generosity was in fact a full recognition of the legitimacy of forces other than good ones.
From "Sula" by Toni Morrison
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.
