legitimacy
/ˌlɛdʒɪˈtɪməsi/ · leg·i·ti·ma·cy
noun
- The quality of being lawful, just, or rightful. The new government's legitimacy was questioned by opposition parties.
- The state of being recognized or accepted as valid or genuine. The company's legitimacy was established through its transparent business practices.
- A sense of entitlement or right to something. The child felt a sense of legitimacy in demanding a fair share of the family inheritance.
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Did you know? The concept of legitimacy has been a subject of debate in philosophy, particularly in the works of Thomas Hobbes, who argued that legitimacy is derived from the consent of the governed.