What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
legitimacy
Example
The legitimacy of the election results was questioned by many. [legitimacy: noun]
Example
The new government struggled to establish its legitimacy in the eyes of the people. [legitimacy: noun]
validity
Example
The study's validity was called into question due to its small sample size. [validity: noun]
Example
The coupon code is only valid for a limited time. [valid: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Validity is more commonly used than legitimacy in everyday language. Validity is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while legitimacy is less common and refers to a specific aspect of acceptability.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between legitimacy and validity?
Both legitimacy and validity can be used in formal contexts, but legitimacy is more commonly associated with legal or political language, while validity is more commonly associated with academic or scientific language.
