# legitimacy

> English word · Noun · IPA /ləˈd͡ʒɪtɪməsi/ · frequency rank #12,457

## Definitions
1. The quality or state of being legitimate or valid; validity.
2. The quality or state of being legitimate or valid; validity.
3. Lawfulness of birth or origin; directness of descent as affecting the royal succession.

## Etymology
From legitimate + -cy.

## Easily confused with
- **legitimate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/legitimacy-vs-legitimate)

## Common misspellings (15)
`elgitimacy`, `leggitimacy`, `legiitmacy`, `legitiamcy`, `legitimaccy`, `legitimacyy`, `legitimayc`, `legitimcay`, `legitimmacy`, `legitmiacy`, `legittimacy`, `legtiimacy`, `leigtimacy`, `lgeitimacy`, `llegitimacy`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/legitimacy