legitimization
Making something lawful
Legitimization is the act or process of making something legitimate—conferring legal status, social acceptance, or perceived validity.
Governments seek legitimization through elections.
A signature provides legitimization for a contract.
The word often carries skeptical undertones, suggesting manufactured rather than earned credibility: The award ceremony was just legitimization for mediocre work.
Also spelled legitimisation (British).
Favorable opinion given
- sanctionApproval or punitive measure
- permitOfficial written authorization
- licenseFormal grant of permission
- certificationAttestation of qualification
accreditation · ratification · empowerment · mandate · charter · warrant · clearance · consent
To uphold or sustain
- backingAid or sponsorship
- advocacyPleading for a cause
- sponsorshipFunded endorsement arrangement
- championingVigorously supporting a cause
commendation · promotion · espousal · patronage · favor · recommendation · affirmation · blessing
Inventing acceptable motives afterward
- vindicationClearance of blame
- defenseProtection against harm
- groundsBasis for justification
- reasoningDrawing logical conclusions
warrant · basis · normalization · explanation · rationale · apologetics
Confirmation of receipt
- acceptanceConsent to receive
- credibilityQuality inspiring trust
- respectRegard with honor
- esteemFavorable opinion of worth
status · reputation · visibility · admission · appreciation · standing · prestige · authority
Proving something accurate
- authenticationConfirming genuine identity
- confirmationEstablishing something as true
- corroborationEvidence confirming another account
- substantiationProof of truth
proof · documentation · attestation · evidence · certification · justification · establishment · credentialing
Ending criminal status
- enactmentPassing into law
- sanctioningFormally approving or penalizing
- lawmakingCrafting enforceable rules
- codificationOrganizing rules into system
regulation · liberalization · allowance · promulgation · normalization
approval
Favorable opinion given
- sanctionApproval or punitive measure
- permitOfficial written authorization
- licenseFormal grant of permission
certification · accreditation · ratification · empowerment · mandate · charter · warrant · clearance · consent · enactment
support
To uphold or sustain
- backingAid or sponsorship
- advocacyPleading for a cause
- sponsorshipFunded endorsement arrangement
championing · commendation · promotion · espousal · patronage · favor · recommendation · affirmation · blessing · seal of approval
rationalization
Inventing acceptable motives afterward
- vindicationClearance of blame
- defenseProtection against harm
- groundsBasis for justification
reasoning · warrant · basis · normalization · explanation · rationale · apologetics
acknowledgment
Confirmation of receipt
- acceptanceConsent to receive
- credibilityQuality inspiring trust
- respectRegard with honor
esteem · status · reputation · visibility · admission · appreciation · standing · prestige · authority · international recognition
verification
Proving something accurate
- authenticationConfirming genuine identity
- confirmationEstablishing something as true
- corroborationEvidence confirming another account
substantiation · proof · documentation · attestation · evidence · certification · justification · establishment · credentialing · vetting
decriminalization
Ending criminal status
- enactmentPassing into law
- sanctioningFormally approving or penalizing
- lawmakingCrafting enforceable rules
codification · regulation · liberalization · allowance · promulgation · normalization
- inheritanceinheritance, inheritances, heir, heirs, heiress
- royal successionthrone, succession, line of succession, order of succession, succession line
- awarenessalertness, aware, attention, cognizance, conscious
- justificationsjustification, rationale, reason, excuse, explanation
legitimizationdelegitimization
Removal of accepted authority
delegitimation · invalidation · discrediting · denunciation · condemnation
legitimizationcriminalization
Making conduct unlawful
prohibition · outlawing · banning · illegalization · proscription
legal, legitimate, legalize, legalized, legislation, illegitimate, legality, legislature, legitimacy