A legacy is what someone leaves behind after they're gone: the lasting impact of their actions, choices, and character. A scientist's legacy might be a life-saving discovery. A teacher's legacy could be the thousands of students she inspired. A parent's legacy includes the values they pass down to their children.

Legacy isn't just for famous people. Your great-grandfather who started a family tradition of summer camping trips created a legacy. A neighbor who planted oak trees that now shade the whole street left a legacy. The word suggests something meaningful that endures: something valuable that continues to matter and influence the future.

Sometimes legacy describes things inherited from the past. A building might be called a legacy of earlier architects. An old computer system at a company could be called legacy software because it's still around from years ago.

People often think about legacy when making important decisions: “What kind of legacy do I want to leave?” A coach building a championship program, an author writing books that help readers, or a founder creating a company that treats people fairly are all thinking about legacy. A person's legacy is shaped over time by their choices: how they treat others, what they create, and what they stand for.