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.
I want to establish legitimacy for the architects and contractors that created here.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026
Analysts say another aim of the election was to normalise their image with a veneer of legitimacy, unfreezing foreign engagement -- including investment projects.
From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026
More than that, allies add legitimacy and moral authority.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 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
It behooved them, therefore, to try to determine the legitimacy of the other claims.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
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.
