legitimate government

Cultural  

1. A government generally acknowledged as being in control of a nation and deserving formal recognition, which is symbolized by the exchange of diplomats between that government and the governments of other countries.

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Example Sentences

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legitimate government

A foreign ministry statement said Riyadh "continues to support the brotherly Yemeni people and their legitimate government."

From Barron's ● Jul. 21, 2026

The Fatah-dominated PLO runs the Palestinian Authority, which governs parts of the West Bank not under Israeli control, and has formally claimed to be the legitimate government in Gaza despite exercising no effective control there.

From BBC ● Apr. 25, 2026

Abrams, the veteran diplomat, said engaging opposition actors, such as Maria Corina Machado, is a core diplomatic responsibility, particularly in a country the United States does not recognize as having a legitimate government.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 4, 2026

“Members of the public often have no way to confirm whether they are interacting with legitimate government officials,” Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif, said in a statement.

From Salon ● Jul. 19, 2025

Later she was introduced by a Western Senator into that form of secret service which has no connection with legitimate government, but which is profitable.

From The Titan by Dreiser, Theodore