Illegitimate: meaning, definitions and examples

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illegitimate

[ˌɪlɪˈdʒɪtɪmət ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Adjective}

parentage

Not authorized by the law; not in accordance with accepted standards or rules.

Synonyms

illicit, unlawful.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
illegitimate	Often used to describe something that lacks legal or moral basis, or a child born out of wedlock. He was considered an illegitimate heir to the throne. Back in the day, children born to unmarried parents were unfairly labeled as illegitimate.
illicit	Typically used to describe activities or substances that are forbidden by law, but also often denotes secret or morally questionable behavior. The group was involved in illicit drug trafficking. They had an illicit love affair.
unlawful	Generally used to describe actions or behavior that is not authorized by law. It sounds more formal than 'illegal'. Their unlawful actions led to serious consequences. He was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm.

Word

Description / Examples

illegitimate

Often used to describe something that lacks legal or moral basis, or a child born out of wedlock.

He was considered an illegitimate heir to the throne.
Back in the day, children born to unmarried parents were unfairly labeled as illegitimate.

illicit

Typically used to describe activities or substances that are forbidden by law, but also often denotes secret or morally questionable behavior.

The group was involved in illicit drug trafficking.
They had an illicit love affair.

unlawful

Generally used to describe actions or behavior that is not authorized by law. It sounds more formal than 'illegal'.

Their unlawful actions led to serious consequences.
He was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm.

Examples of usage

His illegitimate child was not entitled to inherit his estate.
She faced discrimination due to her illegitimate status.

^{Context #2 | Adjective}

child

Born to parents not legally married to each other; born out of wedlock.

Synonyms

bastard, illicit.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
illegitimate	Use this word to describe something that is not in accordance with the law or rules, often used in formal contexts such as legal or political discussions. It can also refer to children born to parents who are not married to each other. The government declared the new law illegitimate. He discovered that he was an illegitimate child.
bastard	This word has a very negative connotation and is often considered offensive. It refers to a child born to parents who are not married, but it can also be used as a derogatory term to insult someone. In medieval times, being called a bastard was a significant social stigma. Why is he acting like such a bastard?
illicit	This word describes activities that are illegal or forbidden by law, often used in contexts discussing crime, drugs, or forbidden relationships. The police are cracking down on illicit drug trade. Their illicit affair was discovered by the media.

Word

Description / Examples

illegitimate

Use this word to describe something that is not in accordance with the law or rules, often used in formal contexts such as legal or political discussions. It can also refer to children born to parents who are not married to each other.

The government declared the new law illegitimate.
He discovered that he was an illegitimate child.

bastard

This word has a very negative connotation and is often considered offensive. It refers to a child born to parents who are not married, but it can also be used as a derogatory term to insult someone.

In medieval times, being called a bastard was a significant social stigma.
Why is he acting like such a bastard?

illicit

This word describes activities that are illegal or forbidden by law, often used in contexts discussing crime, drugs, or forbidden relationships.

The police are cracking down on illicit drug trade.
Their illicit affair was discovered by the media.

Examples of usage

He was an illegitimate child, as his parents never married.
The illegitimate son faced societal stigma in the past.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word comes from the Latin 'illegitimus', meaning 'not lawful'.
It combines the prefix 'il-' which means 'not', with 'legitimate', relating to law.
The term has been in use in English since the late 14th century.

Legal Context

In legal discussions, it often refers to children born outside of marriage, historically affecting their rights.
The term can also apply to businesses or practices that do not comply with regulations.
Illegitimacy in property rights can involve ownership disputes, affecting inheritance laws.

Social Perception

Culturally, individuals deemed illegitimate might face discrimination, influencing social status.
The stigma attached to illegitimacy has evolved, becoming less pronounced in modern societies.
In literature and media, illegitimate characters often symbolize rebellion or nonconformity.

History

Throughout history, the status of illegitimate children has varied greatly, impacting inheritance laws.
Medieval European societies often viewed illegitimacy as a serious issue, affecting a person's rights and social mobility.
Illegitimacy was linked to the concept of 'bastardy', leading to legal consequences and social exclusion.

Psychology

Experiencing stigma due to being considered illegitimate can lead to identity issues and social anxiety.
Research shows that individuals from stigmatized backgrounds may develop resilience or creative coping strategies.
The psychological impact of being labeled illegitimate can persist, affecting relationships and self-esteem.

Translations

Translations of the word "illegitimate" in other languages:

🇵🇹 ilegítimo

🇮🇳 अवैध

🇩🇪 illegal

unrechtmäßig
unerlaubt

🇮🇩 ilegal

🇺🇦 нелегітимний

🇵🇱 nielegalny

🇯🇵 不法な

🇫🇷 illégitime

🇪🇸 ilegítimo

🇹🇷 gayri meşru

🇰🇷 불법의

🇸🇦 غير شرعي

🇨🇿 nelegitimní

🇸🇰 nelegitímny

🇨🇳 非法的

🇸🇮 nezakonit

🇮🇸 ólögmætur

🇰🇿 заңсыз

🇬🇪 უკანონო

🇦🇿 qanunsuz

🇲🇽 ilegítimo

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #10,936, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.

...
10933 skilful
10934 desolate
10935 solicited
10936 illegitimate
10937 networking
10938 foreseen
10939 larval
...