Synonyms of legitimacy

legitimacy

noun

li-ˈji-tə-mə-sē 

as in lawfulness

the quality or state of being legal

the legitimacy of the military dictatorship was not recognized by most other nations

Synonyms & Similar Words

• lawfulness
• legality
• rightfulness
• rightness
• permissibility
• permissibleness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• illegality
• illegitimacy
• unlawfulness
• wrongfulness
• immorality
• wickedness
• wrongness
• badness
• sinfulness
• criminality
• iniquity
• unconstitutionality
• unjustness
• iniquitousness

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of legitimacy

Despite questions about the UN’s legitimacy and its increasing marginalization, Forti insists that the United Nations still matters. — Max Saltman, CNN Money, 21 Sep. 2026

What has distinguished New York, however, is an understanding that disagreement should not come at the expense of partnership, mutual respect, or recognition of Israel’s legitimacy as the homeland of the Jewish people and a land holy to many faiths. — Herbert Block, New York Daily News, 20 Sep. 2026

But when a generation stops believing that an unjust rule has legitimacy, coercion becomes increasingly expensive. — Pegah Banihashemi, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2026

Future market dynamics will reward firms that combine innovation with legitimacy. — Ipsita Mohanty, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2026