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
One other sign of legitimacy is to offer the voter an off-ramp.
—
John Wisely, Detroit Free Press, 23 Oct. 2024
The trifecta of declining trust in public institutions, rapid advancements in generative AI technologies and the growing influence of social media is making the question of election integrity – and therefore the legitimacy of democratic processes – more fraught.
—Aaron Stanley, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024
If the memoir isn’t meant to reveal what’s happening on the Court at a juncture when its legitimacy is being questioned, then what manner of book is this—a coming-of-age story, a D.C. career guide, a congressional thriller, or something else?
—Amy Davidson Sorkin, The New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2024
Child abuse pediatricians and medical organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics remain firm on the legitimacy of the diagnosis.
—Dakin Andone, CNN, 21 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for legitimacy 
John Wisely, Detroit Free Press, 23 Oct. 2024
The trifecta of declining trust in public institutions, rapid advancements in generative AI technologies and the growing influence of social media is making the question of election integrity – and therefore the legitimacy of democratic processes – more fraught.
—Aaron Stanley, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024
If the memoir isn’t meant to reveal what’s happening on the Court at a juncture when its legitimacy is being questioned, then what manner of book is this—a coming-of-age story, a D.C. career guide, a congressional thriller, or something else?
—Amy Davidson Sorkin, The New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2024
Child abuse pediatricians and medical organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics remain firm on the legitimacy of the diagnosis.
—Dakin Andone, CNN, 21 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for legitimacy
Thesaurus Entries Near legitimacy
Cite this Entry
“Legitimacy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/legitimacy. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
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