Delegitimising

Part of speech: verb, adjective

Definitions

1. Undermines the rightful standing or lawful authority of a government, institution, or claim so that it is no longer accepted as valid
2. Stripping away the acceptance and credibility that a person, system, or idea once held, leaving it seen as illegitimate
3. Robbing an institution, leader, or position of its recognized legitimacy, so that others no longer regard it as lawful or justified

Etymology: Delegitimising is the present participle of "delegitimise," formed by attaching the prefix "de-" to "legitimise." The prefix comes from Latin "dē," which meant "from" or "away from," so the basic sense is taking something away from legitimacy. "Legitimise" itself draws on the Latin "legitimus," meaning "lawful" or "according to law," and the "de-" prefix reverses or removes that quality. The pattern is productive in English. Many verbs built this way, such as "decentralise" or "demythologise," strip a quality away rather than creating its opposite outright. "Delegitimise" therefore describes the process of withdrawing recognised authority or validity from a person, institution, or claim, rather than simply declaring it unlawful. The word's meaning depends on the base it is built on, so the historical weight of "legitimise" carries straight through into it.

Synonyms: undermine, discredit, invalidate

Antonyms: legitimize, validate