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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Recent Examples of legitimacy
Meanwhile, funding agencies and research institutions are striving to prove the legitimacy of animal research to the public even as the Trump administration seeks to defund science.
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Celia Ford, Vox, 3 Mar. 2025
But measures that are imposed too quickly or by shaky institutions could lead to outcomes that lack fairness, transparency, and legitimacy and may ultimately deepen, rather than alleviate, social divisions and mistrust in the state.
—Patrick Vinck, Foreign Affairs, 4 Mar. 2025
This counter-narrative, reflected in certain policy decisions and public statements by the current administration, challenges the legitimacy and necessity of DEI efforts.
—Heather V. MacArthur, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
When the public thinks its cash is being wasted, governance loses legitimacy.
—Stephen Collinson, CNN, 1 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for legitimacy
Celia Ford, Vox, 3 Mar. 2025
But measures that are imposed too quickly or by shaky institutions could lead to outcomes that lack fairness, transparency, and legitimacy and may ultimately deepen, rather than alleviate, social divisions and mistrust in the state.
—Patrick Vinck, Foreign Affairs, 4 Mar. 2025
This counter-narrative, reflected in certain policy decisions and public statements by the current administration, challenges the legitimacy and necessity of DEI efforts.
—Heather V. MacArthur, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
When the public thinks its cash is being wasted, governance loses legitimacy.
—Stephen Collinson, CNN, 1 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for legitimacy
Cite this Entry
“Legitimacy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/legitimacy. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.
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