illegitimate

[il-i-jit-uh-mit, 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)

illegitimated, illegitimating 

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

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of illegitimate¹

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

Synonym Study

See illegal.

Related Words

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