legacy
LEG-uh-see
/ˈleg.ə.si/
An amount of money or property left to someone in a will, or something handed down from a predecessor or past era.
In college admissions, it specifically refers to an applicant whose relative previously attended the school.
The story behind the word. Traces back to Latin 'legatum', derived from 'legare' (to bequeath or delegate). Originally meant an official mission entrusted to an ambassador before evolving to mean gifts handed down through a will.
Word relationships
- heritage: 'Heritage' refers broadly to culture and tradition handed down through generations; 'legacy' focuses on specific impacts or inheritances.
Commonly confused with
- bequest: 'Bequest' is purely financial or material property left in a will; 'legacy' can also be abstract influence or reputation.
Collocations
- enduring legacy
- leave a legacy
- legacy admission
- family legacy
Example sentences
- "Debates surrounding legacy preference in admissions have led many colleges to reconsider their policies." Higher Education Policy
Memory hook
LEGACY lives on long after you LEG IT (pass away). What is handed down to future generations.
When not to use
Do not use to describe immediate short-term accomplishments that leave no enduring trace.
Fun facts
- In American higher education, 'legacy students' have been documented at private Ivy League schools since the early 1920s.
Related words
Explore more words
ancestral, heritage, hereditary, predecessor, tradition, patrimony
Also appears in
- Relationships → Generational Differences
- Technology → Technological Obsolescence
- Finance → Philanthropy & Charitable Giving
- Time & History → Preservation & Archiving
- Time & History → Ancestry & Heritage
- Time & History → Commemoration & Remembrances
- Sports, Athletics & Recreation → Olympic & Global Tournaments
- Occasions, Holidays & Parties → Retirement Celebrations
- Student Life & Schooling → Greek Life & Fraternities/Sororities
- Devices & Everyday Tech → Software Updates & Installation
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