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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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.
Recent Examples of legitimacy O’Brien even went on Fox News to endorse the plan to the network’s many Trump fans, giving it an air of Hollywood rank-and-file legitimacy. Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 10 July 2025 This legitimacy was the foundation of her WWE career, particularly her time in NXT. Andrew Ravens‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 July 2025 To avoid this scam, consumers are advised to first contact your health insurance provider directly to verify the legitimacy of any messages before sharing personal, financial, or health care information. Susan Tompor, Freep.com, 8 July 2025 Yet for those who spent the past two decades pushing their disciplines toward legitimacy, the idea of arriving at the finish line together feels more than a little surreal. Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 14 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for legitimacy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for legitimacy
legality
Noun
  • The legality hinges on the player not altering the conditions of the stroke.
    Jennifer Borresen, USA Today, 24 July 2025
  • The plaintiff in the new suit alleges that the board and management disseminated misleading statements about the health of a partnership and the legality of its business model, ultimately harming the company's interests.
    Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Legitimacy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/legitimacy. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.

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