The correct spelling of the word "legitimizes" is with a "z" instead of an "s". The IPA phonetic transcription for the word is /ləˈdʒɪtəmaɪzɪz/. The first syllable is pronounced with a schwa sound, followed by a stress on the second syllable with a "j" sound. The third syllable has a short "i" sound and the final syllable ends in a "z" sound, which should not be confused with the "s" sound. This spelling is commonly used in American English.
The verb "legitimizes" refers to the process or action of making something legitimate, valid, or socially acceptable. It involves granting official recognition or approval to something that was previously considered questionable, illegal, or unauthorized. By legitimizing something, it gains credibility, authority, and a sense of legitimacy in the eyes of others. This can be done through various means, such as legalizing, approving, endorsing, or validating.
The term is often used in social, political, and legal contexts, where it implies the acceptance of a practice, belief, or institution by a larger society or governing body. For example, a government may pass legislation that legitimize previously prohibited activities, like same-sex marriage or the use of certain medications for medical purposes. Additionally, legitimacy can also be bestowed upon individuals or organizations, such as through official certifications, licenses, or qualifications.
The act of legitimizing can have significant implications on societal norms, attitudes, and power structures. It can foster inclusion and equality by recognizing marginalized groups or practices, or it can reinforce existing power dynamics by validating the dominant ideologies or institutions. Nevertheless, the concept of legitimacy is subjective and can vary depending on cultural, historical, and contextual factors.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "legitimizes" originates from the base word "legitimate", which comes from the Latin word "legitimare". This Latin word is derived from two components: "legitimus", meaning "lawful" or "according to the law", and the suffix "-ize", which is used to form verbs indicating action or transformation. When combined, "legitimare" means to make something legitimate or lawful. Therefore, "legitimizes" implies the act of making something legal, valid, or in accordance with established rules or laws.