legacy

[ leg-uh-see ]

noun

, plural leg·a·cies.

1. Law. a gift of property, especially personal property, such as money, by will; a bequest.

   Synonyms: inheritance

2. anything handed down from the past, as from an ancestor or predecessor:

   the legacy of ancient Rome.

   Synonyms: inheritance

3. 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.

4. Obsolete. the office, function, or commission of a legate.

adjective

1. of or relating to old or outdated computer hardware, software, or data that, while still functional, does not work well with up-to-date systems: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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

legacy

/ ˈlɛɡəsɪ /

noun

1. a gift by will, esp of money or personal property
2. something handed down or received from an ancestor or predecessor
3. modifier surviving computer systems, hardware, or software

   legacy network

   legacy application

Word History and Origins

Origin of legacy¹

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 )

Word History and Origins

Origin of legacy¹

C14 (meaning: office of a legate), C15 (meaning: bequest): from Medieval Latin lēgātia commission; see legate

Example Sentences

"It was going to be more about honouring her legacy and her memory, saying that her final work was completed and that began to change my mind on things," he added.

From BBC

Chastain had her moment, then so did Kelly – and now former Chelsea coach Hayes says her current US team have "an amazing opportunity" to create their own legacy.

From BBC

He said afterwards that Nadal's "legacy is going to be eternal".

From BBC

What I have been learning to deal with are the difficult legacies of my cancer treatment - persistent fatigue and the risk of further seizures.

From BBC

If successful, the split would cement a crucial legacy for Biden’s antitrust team.

From New York Times

Related Words

• estate
• gift
• tradition