legitimacy

noun

le·​git·​i·​ma·​cy li-ˈji-tə-mə-sē 

: the quality or state of being legitimate

Synonyms of legitimacy

• lawfulness
• legality

Examples of legitimacy in a Sentence

the legitimacy of the military dictatorship was not recognized by most other nations

Recent Examples on the Web

While El-Sayed has mobilized a base of young progressive voters, Republicans have attacked him as too radical, and some moderate Democrats warn that his winning could add legitimacy to the DSA movement and ultimately hurt the party. — Justin Papp, CNBC, 3 Nov. 2026

Judges chosen by the post-2023 parliamentary majority do not recognize the legitimacy of some judges appointed under PiS, while PiS takes the opposite view. — ABC News, 3 Nov. 2026

California's secretary of state and the Los Angeles County registrar are among officials who have opposed those demands, claiming the request could delay election officials' certification of results and undermine the legitimacy of the midterms. — Richard Ramos, CBS News, 3 Nov. 2026

Higher education experts have cast doubt on the legitimacy of the finding, questioning such statistical conclusions based on standardized test performance, The News & Observer previously reported. — Jane Winik Sartwell, Charlotte Observer, 3 Nov. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1625, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for legitimacy

• illegitimacy

Kids Definition

legitimacy

noun

le·​git·​i·​ma·​cy li-ˈjit-ə-mə-sē 

: the quality or state of being legitimate

Legal Definition

legitimacy

noun

le·​git·​i·​ma·​cy li-ˈji-tə-mə-sē 

: the quality or state of being legitimate