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
While public institutions can sometimes be scientific, encyclopedic, even cold in their faithfulness to detail, private institutions often have more freedom to take an aesthetic and dynamic approach, and have proven their legitimacy, Simode adds.
—
CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2025
For decades, universities have relied on the assumption that their legitimacy was self-evident.
—Nicholas Dirks, Time, 16 Oct. 2025
Doing so would strengthen democratic participation, reduce the influence of massive special interest group spending in our school board races, reduce unnecessary election costs, and enhance the legitimacy of our governance.
—Pioneer Press Elections Team, Twin Cities, 16 Oct. 2025
After two years of war, Gaza has no functioning political body with the authority or legitimacy to shape what comes next.
—Mohammed R. Mhawish, New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for legitimacy
CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2025
For decades, universities have relied on the assumption that their legitimacy was self-evident.
—Nicholas Dirks, Time, 16 Oct. 2025
Doing so would strengthen democratic participation, reduce the influence of massive special interest group spending in our school board races, reduce unnecessary election costs, and enhance the legitimacy of our governance.
—Pioneer Press Elections Team, Twin Cities, 16 Oct. 2025
After two years of war, Gaza has no functioning political body with the authority or legitimacy to shape what comes next.
—Mohammed R. Mhawish, New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for legitimacy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for legitimacy
Noun
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The administration now plans to seek a full review next term on the lawfulness of the executive order itself.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Aug. 2025
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The High Court of Justice in London dismissed claims from the Wikimedia Foundation, which challenged the lawfulness of the categorization system used to determine which sites must comply with obligations.—
Jon Brodkin,
ArsTechnica,
11 Aug. 2025
Noun
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As the industry geared up to gather in Venice, the Senate Committee passed a draft law outlining a voluntary certification system for brands’ pipeline across all tiers of subcontracting, aimed at ensuring legality and traceability throughout, as reported.—
Martino Carrera,
Footwear News,
24 Oct. 2025
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Also being questioned are the legality of the strikes.—
Emily Goodin,
Miami Herald,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Legitimacy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/legitimacy. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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