legitimation
Making something legal
Legitimation is the act or process of making something legitimate—conferring legal status, social acceptance, or validity.
A child born outside marriage may gain legitimation through parents' subsequent marriage or legal recognition.
In broader use, legitimation describes how institutions, practices, or power structures come to be seen as proper and justified: The election provided legitimation for the new government.
Favorable opinion given
- ratificationFormal approval by authority
- sanctionApproval or punitive measure
- consentVoluntary agreement given
- authorizationFormal permission granted
backing · support · affirmation · confirmation · accreditation · sponsorship · blessing · patronage
Legal path to belonging
- formalizationProcess of making rigorous
- institutionalizationEstablishing as norm or standard
- ratificationFormal approval by authority
- enactmentPassing into law
codification · regularization · authorization · sanctioning · conferral · bestowal · investiture
Proving something accurate
- substantiationProof of truth
- confirmationEstablishing something as true
- justificationReason proving rightness
- evidenceFacts supporting truth
documentation · certification · vindication · proof · corroboration · authentication · due process
Legal authority's scope
- sovereigntySupreme independent authority
- governanceHow authority is exercised
- powerEnergy transfer rate
- ruleGoverning principle or standard
mandate · hegemony · dominion · regime · supremacy · command · control · dominance
Confirmation of receipt
- acceptanceConsent to receive
- credibilityQuality inspiring trust
- statusOne's relative position
- standingPosition, physical or social
esteem · respect · prestige · stature · reputation · validity · social acceptance · public recognition
Conformity to regulations
- permissibilityState of being allowed
- rightfulnessMoral or legal validity
- constitutionalityAccordance with founding charter
- decriminalizationEnding criminal status
approval
Favorable opinion given
- ratificationFormal approval by authority
- sanctionApproval or punitive measure
- consentVoluntary agreement given
authorization · backing · support · affirmation · confirmation · accreditation · sponsorship · blessing · patronage · mandate
naturalization
Legal path to belonging
- formalizationProcess of making rigorous
- institutionalizationEstablishing as norm or standard
- ratificationFormal approval by authority
enactment · codification · regularization · authorization · sanctioning · conferral · bestowal · investiture
verification
Proving something accurate
- substantiationProof of truth
- confirmationEstablishing something as true
- justificationReason proving rightness
evidence · documentation · certification · vindication · proof · corroboration · authentication · due process
jurisdiction
Legal authority's scope
- sovereigntySupreme independent authority
- governanceHow authority is exercised
- powerEnergy transfer rate
rule · mandate · hegemony · dominion · regime · supremacy · command · control · dominance · leadership
acknowledgment
Confirmation of receipt
- acceptanceConsent to receive
- credibilityQuality inspiring trust
- statusOne's relative position
standing · esteem · respect · prestige · stature · reputation · validity · social acceptance · public recognition
lawfulness
Conformity to regulations
- permissibilityState of being allowed
- rightfulnessMoral or legal validity
- constitutionalityAccordance with founding charter
- family lawchild custody, child support, alimony, family court, divorce petitions
- discoursediscussion, discourse, text analysis, dialogue, cohesion
- paternity lawpaternity test, paternity testing, paternity tests, paternity suits, paternity fraud
- state theorystate power, state apparatus, nation-state, sovereignty, social contract
- royaltyking, queen, prince, princess, kings
- ancestryancestors, kinship, ancestor, clan, ancestry
legitimationdelegitimization
Removal of accepted authority
invalidation · discrediting · undermining · contestation · questioning
legitimationillegalization
Making something against statute
criminalization · prohibition · annulment · proscription · revocation
legitimationstigmatization
Marking as disgraceful
marginalization · denormalization · condemnation · ostracism · demonization