legacy

UK: /ˈlɛgəsi/ US: /ˈlɛgəsi/ ,(leg′ə sē)

Inflections of 'legacy' (n): npl: legacies

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

leg•a•cy /ˈlɛgəsi/   n. [countable] , pl. -cies. 

1. Law (in a will) a gift of money or other personal property to someone.
2. anything handed down from the past, as if from an ancestor:
   left a legacy of debt.

See -leg-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

leg•a•cy  (leg′ə sē), n., pl. -cies. 

1. Law a gift of property, esp. personal property, as money, by will;
   a bequest.
2. anything handed down from the past, as from an ancestor or predecessor:
   the legacy of ancient Rome.
3. an applicant to or student at a school that was attended by his or her parent.
4. [Obs.] the office, function, or commission of a legate.

adj. 

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 Computing of or pertaining to old or outdated computer hardware, software, or data that, while still functional, does not work well with up-to-date systems.

• Medieval Latin lēgātia. See legate, -acy
• Middle English legacie office of a deputy or legate 1325–75

Synonyms

• 1, 2. inheritance.

legacy, +n. 

1. an applicant to or student at a school that was attended by a parent of the applicant.

adj. 

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 Computing of or pertaining to old or outdated computer hardware, software, or data that, while still functional, does not work well with up-to-date systems.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

legacy / ˈlɛɡəsɪ/ noun ( -cies)

1. a gift by will, esp of money or personal property
2. something handed down or received from an ancestor or predecessor

Etymology: 14th Century (meaning: office of a legate), C15 (meaning: bequest): from Medieval Latin lēgātia commission; see legate