Basing his invention of public relations on his uncle Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theory, Edward Bernays has left a lasting legacy on the media and how they interact with their audiences.
Source: tatoeba (757984)
Legacy
/ˈleɪɡəsi/
Synonyms for "legacy" (112 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (23)
Noun(9 words)
bequestafterlifeafterlivesancient traditionantiquatedbequestscenturies-long historycominterncontribution
Adjective(1 words)
cultural heritages
Strong matches (33)
Adjective(4 words)
cultural patrimonydutch geschiedenisfrench héritagegothic wato artifact
Adjective(1 words)
Preposition(1 words)
for all time
Related words (56)
Adjective(2 words)
historic codewell preserved imprint
Noun(25 words)
honor the memoryimpactimprintimprint bearingimprintsinfluenceinheritanceinheritancesinheritedlastingnessleave a marklegacy systemlongstandingmodern imprintmost cultural legacyobsoleteoldold technologyoutdatedoutdated software
Show 5 more words
incorporeal hereditamentinheritanceissuelaw of successionline of successionlogical outcomemode of successionoffshootoffspringoutcomeoutgrowthpatrimonypostremogenitureprecipitateprimogenitureprobateproductresultresultantreversion
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: bequest, afterlife, afterlives, ancient tradition, antiquated.
- Sentence evidence is available for legacy, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, derived_reverse, moby, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "legacy".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "legacy"
Keep "legacy" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "legacy" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "legacy", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "legacy" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
15 entriesMore specific
13 entriesancestralcultural heritagecultural shiftdeprecated platformeducational reformfamily heirloomlegacy hardwarelegacy softwareobsolete hardwareolder systemsoutdated codescientific influencetime-honored
Collocations
10 entriescultural legacyeducational legacyfamily legacyfinancial legacylegacy approachlegacy datalegacy oflegacy systemlegacy traditionlegacy values
Inflections
1 entriesDerivations
2 entriesSample sentences
22 total sentences available.
The 19th-century European colonization of Africa has left a lasting legacy all over the continent.
Source: tatoeba (799321)
Ronnie's music and legacy live in all of us!
Source: tatoeba (2074895)
The previous government had bequeathed a legacy of problems.
Source: tatoeba (2759853)
Showing 4 of 22 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "legacy"?
Closest matches include bequest, afterlife, afterlives, ancient tradition, antiquated.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "legacy"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.