legitimacy

IPA/lɪˈdʒɪtɪməsi/
KK[lədʒˈɪtəməsi]IPA/lɪˈdʒɪtɪməsi/

legitimacy — noun

1. whether something is permitted by law or official rules

1.nounC1
Definition

whether something is permitted by law or official rules

Example

Judge Patel questioned the legitimacy of the search without court approval.

question the legitimacy of + legal action

Lawyers argued over the legitimacy of Mateo's contract signed after midnight.

legitimacy of + contract

Common collocations
  • question the legitimacy of a search
  • the legitimacy of a contract
  • the legitimacy of a permit
  • check the legitimacy of an ID card
Synonyms
  • lawfulness

    more formal and focused directly on conformity with the law

  • validity

    often used for documents or claims, not always specifically about the law

Antonyms
  • illegality

    directly means that something is against the law

Grammar Patterns

the legitimacy of + legal action

question the legitimacy of + document

check the legitimacy of + permit

Usage Note

Often used for permits, searches, contracts, elections, and other official acts when the question is whether they are lawful. Distinguish from sense 2, which is about public or moral acceptance rather than the law itself.

Common Mistakes

The company had to prove the permit was legitimacy.
The company had to prove the permit's legitimacy.
Legitimacy is the noun; legitimate is the adjective.

2. the state of having enough fairness or good reason for people to accept somethin

2.nounC1
Definition

the state of having enough fairness or good reason for people to accept something

Example

Many voters questioned the legitimacy of the result after the recount.

the legitimacy of + result

At lunch, students debated the legitimacy of the new dress code.

legitimacy of + rule or policy

Common collocations
  • question the legitimacy of a result
  • the legitimacy of a decision
  • give legitimacy to concerns
  • build legitimacy
Synonyms
  • validity

    often stresses that an argument or concern is sound rather than broadly accepted

  • credibility

    focuses more on whether people believe a person or claim

  • justification

    focuses on the reason offered in defense, not the wider acceptance it creates

Antonyms
  • illegitimacy

    used when authority or acceptance is seen as unjustified

Grammar Patterns

the legitimacy of + result

give legitimacy to + concern

build legitimacy

Usage Note

Common with decisions, results, complaints, or governments when people ask whether they deserve acceptance. Distinguish from sense 1 when the issue is not legality but whether others see something as fair, reasonable, or properly grounded.

Common Mistakes

Her calm reply strengthened the plan's legality.
Her calm reply strengthened the plan's legitimacy.
Legality is about the law, while legitimacy here is about justified acceptance.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

Legitimacy, legality, validity, and credibility overlap, but they test different things. Legality asks whether something follows the law. Legitimacy is broader: it can refer to legal status, but it can also describe whether a result, decision, complaint, or authority seems fair enough for people to accept. Validity often focuses on whether an argument, claim, or document is sound or effective. Credibility focuses on whether people believe a person or statement. A process may be legal yet still face doubts about legitimacy if people think it was unfair or badly handled.

legitimacy ↗legality ↗validity ↗credibility ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • political legitimacy
  • public legitimacy
  • institutional legitimacy

Phrases

  • question the legitimacy of
  • challenge the legitimacy of
  • give legitimacy to
  • build legitimacy

Prepositions

  • legitimacy of
  • legitimacy under

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Legitimacy comes from legitimate, a word English received through French from Latin. The noun ending -cy created a form meaning the state of being lawful or accepted as proper.