legitimizing
Granting formal approval
Legitimizing is making something legitimate—giving it official status, legal standing, or social acceptance.
A government might legitimize a rebel group by negotiating with it.
Marriage can legitimize a relationship in the eyes of family or law.
The word often implies that something previously lacked proper authority or recognition: Critics accused the interview of legitimizing extremist views.
Formally approving or penalizing
- empoweringGiving authority or confidence
- permittingGiving consent or authorization
- licensingGranting official permission
- accreditingGranting official authorization
ratifying · approving · enabling · delegating · mandating · commissioning · certifying · warranting
Declaring something true
- confirmingEstablishing truth of something
- substantiatingProving something true
- corroboratingStrengthening with evidence
- justifyingProving to be reasonable
vindicating · upholding · authenticating · verifying · establishing · proving · demonstrating · evidencing
Of or relating to authority
- parliamentaryOf a legislature
- constitutionalHealth-promoting walk
- statutoryEstablished by enacted law
- regulatoryInvolving official oversight
bureaucratic · diplomatic · ceremonial · jurisdictional · legislative · judicial · sovereign · official
Making conform to norms
- mainstreamingIncluding in standard settings
- acceptingWilling to receive
- embracingHolding warmly, willingly accepting
- recognizingPerceiving as known
acknowledging · destigmatizing · integrating · including · welcoming · tolerating · respecting · dignifying
sanctioning
Formally approving or penalizing
- empoweringGiving authority or confidence
- permittingGiving consent or authorization
- licensingGranting official permission
accrediting · ratifying · approving · enabling · delegating · mandating · commissioning · certifying · warranting · entitling
affirming
Declaring something true
- confirmingEstablishing truth of something
- substantiatingProving something true
- corroboratingStrengthening with evidence
justifying · vindicating · upholding · authenticating · verifying · establishing · proving · demonstrating · evidencing · supporting
governmental
Of or relating to authority
- parliamentaryOf a legislature
- constitutionalHealth-promoting walk
- statutoryEstablished by enacted law
regulatory · bureaucratic · diplomatic · ceremonial · jurisdictional · legislative · judicial · sovereign · official · formal
normalizing
Making conform to norms
- mainstreamingIncluding in standard settings
- acceptingWilling to receive
- embracingHolding warmly, willingly accepting
recognizing · acknowledging · destigmatizing · integrating · including · welcoming · tolerating · respecting · dignifying · humanizing
- formalizingformalizing, institutionalizing, officializing, establishing, codifying
- approvalsapproved, approve, authorizing, certification, endorsing
- Excusingjustifying, forgiving, pardoning, condoning, rationalizing
legitimizingoutlawing
Making legally forbidden
criminalizing · banning · prohibiting · illegalizing · delegitimizing
legitimizingdelegitimizing
Removing perceived rightfulness
discrediting · stigmatizing · condemning · marginalizing · ostracizing
legitimizingcondemning
Expressing severe disapproval
denouncing · vilifying · demonizing · disavowing · repudiating
legitimate, legislation, illegitimate, legality, legislature, legitimacy, legislate, legitimize, legitimately