Legitimacy
(noun)
- The quality of being legally or morally right and acceptable.
- The quality of having been legally or properly established.
- The quality of having been officially approved or accepted.
Origin:
From french légitimité, from latin legitimus ("lawful"), from lex ("law").
Examples:
- The legitimacy of the government was called into question by the opposition.
- The election was held in a free and fair manner, lending legitimacy to the results.
- The new law is intended to establish the legitimacy of the new regime.
- He questioned the legitimacy of the new law.
- The legitimacy of the company's claim is being investigated.