Legitimieren

Legitimieren is a German verb meaning to confer legitimacy or to authorize and validate something. It is used in legal, political, and social contexts to indicate that a person, action, institution, or rule is recognized as lawful, acceptable, or justified within a given norm or system.

Etymology and related forms: Legitimieren derives from legitimem, with the common German suffix -ieren to form a verb. Related nouns include Legitimation (the act of legitimating) and Legitimität (legitimacy). The term is often contrasted with Legalisierung, which emphasizes making something lawful by law, whereas Legitimierung emphasizes acceptance, justification, and recognition within social or political norms.

Usage and nuances: In law, a regulation or authority may be legitimiert when its legality and authority are recognized by constitutional or statutory frameworks. In politics, leaders or institutions seek to legitimieren their authority through elections, mandates, or public support. In social contexts, practices or organizations may be legitimiert by standards, certifications, or professional ethics. The verb is transitive and typically paired with a direct object, for example: eine Maßnahme legitimieren (to legitimize a measure).

Conjugation and grammar: Legitimieren is a regular -ieren verb. Present: ich legitim iere, du legitim ier st, er legitim iert, wir legitim ieren, ihr legitim iert, sie legitim ieren. Past: ich legitim ierte, du legitim ier test, er legitim ierte, wir legitim ierten, ihr legitim iertet, sie legitim ierten. Present perfect: ich habe legitimiert. Passive: wird legitimiert. Noun forms include Legitimation, Legitimität and Legitimierung.