legitimacy
nounfeminineformal/lɨʒitiˈmiðɐðɨ/high
le·gi·ti·mi·da·de
Definition
The quality of being legitimate; conformity to law or to rules; the quality of being accepted by the public as right and proper.
The legitimacy of the election results was widely recognized.
The new law lacks moral legitimacy in the eyes of many citizens.
Common collocations
democratic legitimacylegal legitimacyquestion of legitimacyloss of legitimacy
Etymology
Do latim 'legitimitas, -atis'.