legitimacy

== English == === Etymology === From legitimate + -cy. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ləˈd͡ʒɪtɪməsi/ (General American, Canada, General Australian) IPA(key): /ləˈd͡ʒɪtɪməsi/, [ləˈd͡ʒɪɾɪməsi] === Noun === legitimacy (countable and uncountable, plural legitimacies) The quality or state of being legitimate or valid; validity. (by extension, political science) Public acceptance of an institution, such as a government, corporation, or system. Lawfulness of birth or origin; directness of descent as affecting the royal succession. ==== Synonyms ==== legitimateness (much less common) ==== Antonyms ==== illegitimacy ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ====