as in lawfulness
the quality or state of being legal
the legitimacy of the military dictatorship was not recognized by most other nations
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of legitimacy
Watching Power Ballad, audience sympathies toggle back-and-forth between Rudd’s Rick and his quest for credit and Jonas’ Danny, with his desire for legitimacy.
—
Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 23 Apr. 2026
Its overarching premise is that the law loses its legitimacy when political and economic elites violate—or are merely perceived to violate—the social contract.
—Thomas Chatterton Williams, The Atlantic, 23 Apr. 2026
Experts and citizens now living outside the country said the president is using Leo’s visit to push for legitimacy despite discontent over the family’s tight grip on power.
—ABC News, 22 Apr. 2026
Instead, legitimacy is often determined later through a complex network of audits, documentation reviews, denials, appeals, and compliance checks.
—Holland Haynie, STAT, 21 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for legitimacy
Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 23 Apr. 2026
Its overarching premise is that the law loses its legitimacy when political and economic elites violate—or are merely perceived to violate—the social contract.
—Thomas Chatterton Williams, The Atlantic, 23 Apr. 2026
Experts and citizens now living outside the country said the president is using Leo’s visit to push for legitimacy despite discontent over the family’s tight grip on power.
—ABC News, 22 Apr. 2026
Instead, legitimacy is often determined later through a complex network of audits, documentation reviews, denials, appeals, and compliance checks.
—Holland Haynie, STAT, 21 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for legitimacy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for legitimacy
Noun
-
Had the former Wolverines coach and prosecutors failed to negotiate a plea deal and gone to trial, Moore’s attorneys were expected to attack the admissibility of evidence and the lawfulness of a search warrant.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
14 Apr. 2026
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The petitions are not contesting removal orders, only the lawfulness of detaining the noncitizen plaintiffs during those proceedings.—
Tasha Carvell,
Twin Cities,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The map was approved in a ballot referendum in April but is currently on hold while the Virginia Supreme Court considers the legality of the new map.—
Jacob Rosen,
CBS News,
6 May 2026
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This is essential to accountability, legality, and preventing unchecked executive power.—
Linh Tat,
Oc Register,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Legitimacy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/legitimacy. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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