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 That is even more true with Goodison, a move which imparts a degree of legitimacy to Everton’s women’s football project but also scrutiny, greater expectations from advocates and detractors alike to get this thing right, and quickly. Megan Feringa, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025 For operators who adapt, compliance is the path to legitimacy, sustainability, and perhaps even global competitiveness. Robert Hoban, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025 When asked to provide proof of legitimacy, such as a company profile, GitHub repository, or professional contact, the developer stopped responding. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 14 Sep. 2025 If the meeting proceeds, any recommendations made should be rejected as lacking legitimacy given the seriousness of the allegations and the current turmoil in CDC leadership. Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 12 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for legitimacy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for legitimacy
Noun
  • The administration now plans to seek a full review next term on the lawfulness of the executive order itself.
    Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Aug. 2025
  • The High Court of Justice in London dismissed claims from the Wikimedia Foundation, which challenged the lawfulness of the categorization system used to determine which sites must comply with obligations.
    Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 11 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Observers raised serious questions about the legality of the missile strikes.
    Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
  • Legal experts are questioning the legality of defunding the academy.
    Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 17 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Legitimacy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/legitimacy. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.

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