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HOW TO PRONOUNCE

legitimacy

/ləˈd͡ʒɪtɪməsi/

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American Pronunciation Guide · 1:03
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What does legitimacy mean?

noun

  1. The quality or state of being legitimate or valid; validity.
  2. Public acceptance of an institution, such as a government, corporation, or system.
  3. Lawfulness of birth or origin; directness of descent as affecting the royal succession.

Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0

IPA pronunciation

/ləˈd͡ʒɪtɪməsi/

Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0

Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.

In the pages of books

See this word in context.

To say that, is to confess that there is no reply to those who question the legitimacy of the fact itself.
P.-J. (Pierre-Joseph) ProudhonWhat is Property? An Inquiry into the Principle of Right and of GovernmentProject Gutenberg ebook #360
The question of Sophie's legitimacy anses from the fact that her mother, Jane Callaway, was registered at death as "a spinster."
Victor MacClureShe Stands AccusedProject Gutenberg ebook #488
More book examples (3)
He imagined that Venn and Mrs. Yeobright were in league, and felt that there was a certain legitimacy in combating such a coalition.
Thomas HardyThe Return of the NativeProject Gutenberg ebook #122
If a woman had money she might dictate her own terms: equality, a life contract, and the legitimacy—that is, the property-rights—of her children.
Upton SinclairThe JungleProject Gutenberg ebook #140
Every revolution, being a normal outcome, contains within itself its legitimacy, which false revolutionists sometimes dishonor, but which remains even when soiled, which survives even when stained with blood.
Victor HugoLes MisérablesTranslated by Isabel Florence HapgoodProject Gutenberg ebook #135