illegitimate

American  

[il-i-jit-uh-mit, il-i-jit-uh-meyt] / ˌɪl ɪˈdʒɪt ə mɪt, ˌɪl ɪˈdʒɪt əˌmeɪt /

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.

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noun

1. a person recognized or looked upon as illegitimate.

verb (used with object)

illegitimated, illegitimating

1. to declare illegitimate.

illegitimate British  

/ 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

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noun

1. an illegitimate person; bastard

Related Words

See illegal.

Other Word Forms

• illegitimacy noun
• illegitimately adverb
• illegitimateness noun
• illegitimation noun

Etymology

Origin of illegitimate

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

Example Sentences

He has not only belittled the ruling ideology, but urged his supporters to attack the apparatus that maintains the duopoly by declaring the 2020 election illegitimate.

From Salon

That combination, Ms. Tocci said, can do serious damage to public faith in the justice system — the defendant’s supporters see the system as illegitimate, while the leader’s opponents see it as ineffectual.

From New York Times

Whatever Alvin L. Bragg, the district attorney, turned up was immaterial — to defend their party’s most recent president, and possible next nominee, they preemptively declared the prosecution illegitimate because it was brought by a Democrat.

From New York Times

The NLD had repeatedly ruled out running in the election, for which no date has been set, calling it illegitimate.

From Reuters

Many Western countries and international organisations have already dismissed the election as illegitimate and voiced concern that key stakeholders in Myanmar are being shut out of the political process.

From Reuters

Related Words

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