delegitimize

verb

de·​le·​git·​i·​mize ˌdē-lə-ˈji-tə-ˌmīz 

delegitimized; delegitimizing; delegitimizes

transitive verb

: to diminish or destroy the legitimacy, prestige, or authority of

delegitimize a government

delegitimization

ˌdē-lə-ˌji-tə-mə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

Examples of delegitimize in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Trans-exclusionary feminists like Julie Bindel or Kathleen Stock, and for that matter Davidson and Craven, enjoy regular access to the national media to delegitimize trans identity while claiming transgender people undermine women’s voices. — Literary Hub, 5 Oct. 2026

Seeking to deliberately undermine, delegitimize and destroy is not Madisonian. — Arkansas Online, 23 Sep. 2026

On the right, commentators see the leaks as part of a campaign to delegitimize the Court, and Roberts in particular. — Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026

Never in these 13 years has Modi’s governance been so actively delegitimized. — Yamini Aiyar, Time, 29 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1968, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for delegitimize

• contextualize
• industrialize
• materialise
• materialize
• memorialize
• microenterprise
• overemphasize
• particularize
• revolutionise
• revolutionize
• actualize
• antagonize