French Conversation · Level 80
60 words
French word
légitimité
Pronunciation
IPA/leʒitimite/
Meaning
- feminine nounlegitimacy
Example
Il faut défendre la légitimité des élections.
We must defend the legitimacy of the elections.
More examples
Son expérience donne de la légitimité à ses propos.
His experience lends legitimacy to his statements.
Core concept
A decision or authority standing on accepted moral, social, or legal grounds.
Common phrases
la légitimité démocratique
democratic legitimacy
acquérir de la légitimité
acquire legitimacy
mettre en doute la légitimité
question the legitimacy
Similar words
légalité: Conformity of an act or decision with the law.
autorité: The power to secure others' compliance through recognized social standing.
crédibilité: The quality of being considered worthy of trust.
acceptation: Being received or approved by a society or group.
Definition in French
Qualité d'une action, d'une décision ou d'une autorité reconnue comme fondée sur des raisons morales, sociales ou juridiques.
Word origin
Légitimité comes from Latin legitimus, meaning lawful, through French légitime with the noun-forming suffix -ité.
Usage tips
- Légitimité can differ from légalité: an action may follow the law yet still lack broad moral or social acceptance.