WordGarden.iolegitimacy
C1Pronunciation
UK
- /lədʒˈɪtɪməsi/
US
- /ləˈdʒɪtəməsi/
Meanings
Noun
accepted rightfulness or authority of a government, institution, or claim
legal validity or lawfulness under formal rules
the status of being born to parents legally married to each other
Beyond the definition
Legitimacy describes something that is considered right and proper according to rules, law, or public belief. A government needs legitimacy to rule effectively because people need to believe it has the right to govern. You might also talk about the legitimacy of a claim, an argument, or a business if it seems real, fair, and acceptable. Think of it as being on the up-and-up!
The word comes from the Latin "legitimus," meaning lawful. If someone questions the legitimacy of an election result, they are questioning whether the process was fair and followed the rules. Historically, the term also referred to a child's status being recognized by law, showing how closely the concept is tied to accepted social and legal norms.
Legitimacy refers to the quality of being recognized as lawful, rightful, or valid. It's about acceptance and justification—the idea that something should be considered correct or appropriate. This can apply to many different areas, from political power to personal beliefs.
In politics, legitimacy is crucial for a government's authority. A government gains legitimacy when its citizens believe it has the right to rule, often through free and fair elections, adherence to laws, and respect for human rights. If a government loses legitimacy—perhaps due to corruption or oppression—it can face unrest and instability. "The new leader struggled to establish his legitimacy after a contested election."
However, legitimacy isn't limited to politics. It can also describe the acceptance of an idea, argument, or claim. A scientific theory gains legitimacy through rigorous testing and peer review. An artist might seek legitimacy within the art world by gaining recognition from critics and collectors. "The historian questioned the legitimacy of the source document."
Even in everyday language, we use "legit" (a shortened form of legitimate) to mean genuine or authentic. "That's a legit vintage guitar!" means it is truly old and valuable.
Ultimately, legitimacy is about being seen as real, valid, and deserving of acceptance—whether that's by the public, experts, or simply your friends. It's the foundation upon which trust, authority, and stability are built.
Examples
- 1
Election
Many voters questioned the legitimacy of the election results.
- 2
New government
The new government worked hard to gain legitimacy after the crisis.
- 3
Decision-making
Clear rules helped give legitimacy to the decision.
- 4
Local acceptance
The policy may be legal, but it still lacks legitimacy among local residents.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Customer opinion
The company lost legitimacy in the eyes of customers after the report was published.
- Phrasein the eyes of + person/group
in that person or group's opinion
- 6
Peaceful protest
She defended the legitimacy of peaceful protest.
- 7
Cultural institution
The award strengthened the museum's legitimacy as a serious cultural institution.
- Patternlegitimacy as + role/status
acceptance in that role or status
See also
Similar
- validity
- lawfulness
- rightfulness
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Do not confuse
Used with (collocations)
- political legitimacy
- democratic legitimacy
- question the legitimacy of
- claim legitimacy
Word family
Explore
- consent of the governed
- public trust
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- legitimacynoun