LEGITIMACY

authenticity, genuineness, legitimacy

(noun) undisputed credibility

legitimacy

(noun) lawfulness by virtue of being authorized or in accordance with law

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Noun

legitimacy (countable and uncountable, plural legitimacies)

The quality of being legitimate or valid; validity.

Lawfulness of birth or origin; directness of descent as affecting the royal succession.

Synonyms

• legitimateness (much less common)

Antonyms

• illegitimacy

Source: Wiktionary

Le*git"i*ma*cy, n. Etym: [See Legitimate, a.]

Definition: The state, or quality, of being legitimate, or in conformity with law; hence, the condition of having been lawfully begotten, or born in wedlock. The doctrine of Divine Right, which has now come back to us, like a thief from transportation, under the alias of Legitimacy. Macaulay.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition