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Lawfulness vs Legitimacy - What's the difference?

lawfulness | legitimacy |

As nouns the difference between lawfulness and legitimacy

is that lawfulness is property of being lawful, of obeying the law while legitimacy is the quality of being legitimate or valid; validity.

lawfulness

English

Noun

(-)
  • Property of being lawful, of obeying the law.
    • His extreme lawfulness made him righteous, but did it make him merciful?

    legitimacy

    English

    Noun

    (head)
  • the quality of being legitimate or valid; validity

    • Synonyms

    * legitimateness (much less common)