illegitimate

[ adjective noun il-i-jit-uh-mit; verb il-i-jit-uh-meyt ]

adjective

1. born of parents who are not married to each other; born out of wedlock:

   an illegitimate child.

2. not legitimate; not sanctioned by law or custom.
3. unlawful; illegal:

   an illegitimate action.

4. irregular; not in good usage.
5. Logic. not in accordance with the principles of valid inference.
6. Obsolete. (formerly, in London)
   1. of or relating to stage plays in which musical numbers were inserted because of laws that gave only a few theaters the exclusive right to produce straight dramas.
   2. acting in or producing such productions.

noun

1. a person recognized or looked upon as illegitimate.

verb (used with object)

, il·le·git·i·mat·ed, il·le·git·i·mat·ing.

1. to declare illegitimate.

illegitimate

/ ˌɪlɪˈdʒɪtɪmɪt /

adjective

1. born of parents who were not married to each other at the time of birth; bastard
2. forbidden by law; illegal; unlawful
3. contrary to logic; incorrectly reasoned

noun

1. an illegitimate person; bastard

Derived Forms

• ˌilleˈgitimately, adverb
• ˌilleˈgitimacy, noun

Other Words From

• ille·giti·mate·ly adverb
• ille·giti·mate·ness ille·giti·mation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of illegitimate¹

First recorded in 1530–40; il- ² + legitimate

Synonym Study

See illegal.

Example Sentences

This fits into his history of treating all sexual abuse allegations — at least against white men — as categorically illegitimate.

From Salon

When people are made to feel like nothing really matters anymore, and the “system” and “the elites” and their society are broken and illegitimate, they will engage in behavior that is individually and collectively destructive.

From Salon

Clinton’s loss to Trump in 2016, I told the editor of a prominent policy journal that his and her Clintonite regime is “illegitimate and unsustainable.”

From Salon

Taiwan rejected the offer, leading Beijing to insist the Taiwan's ROC government was illegitimate - but unofficial representatives from China and Taiwan still held limited talks.

From BBC

So too is the Balearic island of Mallorca, with the theory that Columbus was the illegitimate son of the prince of Viana, brother of King Ferdinand, who endorsed his breakthrough voyage.

From BBC

Related Words

• illegal
• illicit
• improper
• invalid
• unauthorized
• unconstitutional
• unlawful