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delegitimation

delegitimation

1 9.3
The act of making someone or something seem less legitimate
  • noun
  • /ˌdiːlɛdʒɪˈteɪʃən/
  • Formal
translation icon : delegitimación
  • In other words, the delegitimation of Middle East authoritarian regimes was parasitic on the anti-Americanism engendered by the Iraq War.
  • delegitimation processes
  • political delegitimation

Examples

  • So the strategies of legitimation or delegitimation of certain groups are quite visible.

    Academic text (1999)
  • Processes of delegitimation occur when political power gravitates toward expansion, which may result in corruption.

    Academic text (2000)
  • Processes of delegitimation are not limited to the level of group behavior.

    Academic text (2000)
  • The framework for our theory finds its source in the term "delegitimation."

    Academic text (2000)
  • By the same token, members of the Gush Emunim in government did not undergo a process of delegitimation.

    Academic text (2000)
  • For Fransisco Thuomi, the state faced a "deep delegitimation crisis," evidenced by the relative lack of capacity compared with the drug industry.

    Academic text (2004)
  • In a subsequent study, Sprinzak (1974) explored the origins of the processes of delegitimation among groups.

    Academic text (2000)
  • For church members in particular, some of whom could claim an active role in the delegitimation of the communist regime, the end result was a mixture of feelings of increased self-worth: pride in being German, enthusiasm about reunification, and optimism about their future.

    Academic text (1999)
  • Rather, it was embedded in a hegemonic framework that combined violence, commerce, and ideas of modernity in a systemic delegitimation of previously common tributary schemes.

    Academic text (2004)
  • The delegitimation of public trust can have serious consequences for democratic institutions.

Synonyms

demonization
vsdelegitimation
  • Literature
9 7.9

Treating a person or group as if they are evil to make others dislike them

aims at undermining legitimacy more generally rather than assigning moral evil
denigration
vsdelegitimation
  • Offensive
5 8.4

Unfair criticism that makes someone or their work seem bad

covers the wider process of losing authority rather than just insults
repudiation
vsdelegitimation
  • Formal
4 8.2

Showing that an idea or claim is false by giving proof

focuses on causing loss of legitimacy rather than merely exposing falseness
debasement
vsdelegitimation
3 7.5

Making a person or thing less respected and less valued

is specifically about loss of legitimacy or validity, not only value loss
stigmatization
vsdelegitimation
  • US
3 8.4

Treating a person as shameful so others avoid or blame them

focuses on loss of formal or general legitimacy rather than social shunning
decertification
vsdelegitimation
  • Formal
1 7.7

The act of taking away official approval from a hospital, school, or person

is broader loss of legitimacy, not limited to official certification removal
detraction
vsdelegitimation
1 8.6

A remark or action that unfairly harms someone's reputation

refers to an overall process of losing legitimacy beyond single damaging acts
delegitimization
vsdelegitimation
  • Formal
1 8.7

The act of making a person or thing seem not accepted by many people

has identical meaning but is a different noun form used in texts

Antonyms

legitimation
  • Formal
1 7.5

Giving someone legal status and rights, for example by law or marriage

How Legitimate

legitimacy
54 4.6
delegitimation
  • Formal
1 9.3
illegitimacy
  • Formal
4 7.3

Surface Forms

Morphology

delegitimation = legitimation (semi-transparent) = de + legitimate + ion

Adding the reversive prefix 'de-' to 'legitimation' straightforwardly gives the idea of undoing or undermining legitimacy.

Etymology

Delegitimation is built from de- meaning 'remove', legit meaning 'legal' or 'accepted', and -ation for a 'process'. So delegitimation is the process of taking away someone's or something's right to be seen as official or valid.