Examples of legitimacy in a Sentence
the legitimacy of the military dictatorship was not recognized by most other nations
Recent Examples on the Web
University policies and book contracts may offer veils of legitimacy and shields from legal liability.
—
Emily Hodgson Anderson, The Conversation, 25 Mar. 2026
His ideas precipitated a tectonic crisis of political legitimacy and unleashed a series of continent-wide wars, sometimes featuring millenarian protocommunist sects like the Anabaptists, who sought to overthrow the social order.
—Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
But when ballots counted after Election Day affect the outcome of a race, that can raise doubts about their legitimacy even when there is no fraud, critics argue.
—Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 23 Mar. 2026
These are all stories of questionable legitimacy.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 19 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for legitimacy
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Emily Hodgson Anderson, The Conversation, 25 Mar. 2026
His ideas precipitated a tectonic crisis of political legitimacy and unleashed a series of continent-wide wars, sometimes featuring millenarian protocommunist sects like the Anabaptists, who sought to overthrow the social order.
—Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
But when ballots counted after Election Day affect the outcome of a race, that can raise doubts about their legitimacy even when there is no fraud, critics argue.
—Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 23 Mar. 2026
These are all stories of questionable legitimacy.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 19 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for legitimacy
Cite this Entry
“Legitimacy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/legitimacy. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
