Illegitimate: meaning, definitions and examples

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illegitimate

 

[ ˌɪlɪˈdʒɪtɪmət ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

parentage

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

Synonyms

illicit, unlawful

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

Examples of usage

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

Translations

Translations of the word "illegitimate" in other languages:

🇵🇹 ilegítimo

🇮🇳 अवैध

🇩🇪 illegal

🇮🇩 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 origin

The term 'illegitimate' has its roots in Latin 'illegitimus,' which means 'not legitimate.' It has been used historically to describe children born outside of marriage or actions not sanctioned by law. The negative connotations associated with the word have evolved over time, reflecting changing societal views on family structure and legitimacy.

See also: delegitimizing, illegitimately, legitimization.

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.