legacy
Americannoun
plural
legacies-
Law. a gift of property, especially personal property, such as money, by will; a bequest.
- Synonyms:
- inheritance
-
anything handed down from the past, as from an ancestor or predecessor.
the legacy of ancient Rome.
- Synonyms:
- inheritance
-
an applicant to or student at the alma mater of their parent or parents.
As a legacy, he worried that professors would expect him to be less qualified than his peers.
-
Obsolete. the office, function, or commission of a legate.
adjective
-
of or relating to old or outdated computer hardware, software, or data that, while still functional, does not work well with up-to-date systems.
Legacy systems put you at greater risk of cyberattacks.
-
of or relating to an existing system, process, or state of affairs inherited from the past and typically a burden.
legacy pollutants;
a legacy drainage system.
-
being or relating to a university applicant or student whose parent or other close relative attended the same school.
The admissions policies of most Ivy League schools favor legacy applicants.
noun
-
a gift by will, esp of money or personal property
-
something handed down or received from an ancestor or predecessor
-
(modifier) surviving computer systems, hardware, or software
legacy network
legacy application
Etymology
Origin of legacy
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English legacie “office of a deputy or legate,” from Medieval Latin lēgātia, from Latin lēgāt(us) “deputy” ( legate ) + -ia, noun suffix ( -acy )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei brought a sense of disbelief to a nation divided over his legacy, as loyal supporters gathered in mourning and opponents celebrated his demise.
When all is said and done, it will remain his most enduring legacy.
From Salon
Turns out that the star's wife and long-term manager has a firm grasp on his legacy.
From BBC
Historically, Iran’s 1979 revolution transformed it from a U.S.-aligned monarchy to an adversarial theocratic state — a legacy that shapes today’s fears about protracted conflict and regional destabilization.
From Salon
The legacy organizations dealing with immigration were the Immigration and Naturalization Service and the U.S.
From Salon
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
