illegitimate

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

/ adjective, noun ˌɪl ɪˈdʒɪt ə mɪt; verb ˌɪl ɪˈdʒɪt əˌmeɪt /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: illegitimate / illegitimately / illegitimateness / illegitimation on Thesaurus.com

adjective

born of parents who are not married to each other; born out of wedlock: an illegitimate child.

not legitimate; not sanctioned by law or custom.

unlawful; illegal: an illegitimate action.

irregular; not in good usage.

Logic. not in accordance with the principles of valid inference.

Obsolete. (formerly, in London)

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.
acting in or producing such productions.

noun

a person recognized or looked upon as illegitimate.

verb (used with object), il·le·git·i·mat·ed, il·le·git·i·mat·ing.

to declare illegitimate.

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of illegitimate

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

synonym study for illegitimate

2, 3. See illegal.

OTHER WORDS FROM illegitimate

il·le·git·i·mate·ly, adverbil·le·git·i·mate·ness, il·le·git·i·ma·tion, noun

Words nearby illegitimate

illegalize, illegal procedure, illegible, illegit, illegitimacy, illegitimate, illegitimize, ill-equipped, ill fame, ill-fated, ill-favored

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use illegitimate in a sentence

Anything they propose — whether it be policy, unity or accountability — is going to be viewed as illegitimate by a decent portion of Americans.
Our Radicalized Republic|Maggie Koerth (maggie.koerth-baker@fivethirtyeight.com)|January 25, 2021|FiveThirtyEight
Some will dismiss my arguments as illegitimate simply because they come from the hated mainstream media.
The lie that lingers: 3 in 10 Americans falsely believe the election was riddled with fraud|Philip Bump|January 19, 2021|Washington Post
By encouraging their followers to see their political opponents as illegitimate — and letting them follow that logic where it leads — Republicans have been flirting with this kind of anti-democratic behavior for years.
The case for consequences|Zack Beauchamp|January 12, 2021|Vox
If we were to wake up tomorrow and decree that all NDAs are now defunct, companies would have both legitimate and illegitimate concerns.
NDAs bear blame for some of the worst corporate cover-ups. How that should change|jakemeth|September 18, 2020|Fortune

Yanzhong Huang, senior fellow for global health at the Council on Foreign Relations, says such fears are “not entirely illegitimate” given reports of similar incidents in mainland China.
Hong Kong’s citywide COVID-19 testing has become a barometer of public trust|eamonbarrett|September 9, 2020|Fortune
She was also an autodidact, an illegitimate girl from the provinces whose intelligence became the stuff of legend.
Sor Juana: Mexico’s Most Erotic Poet and Its Most Dangerous Nun|Katie Baker|November 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
You should be so proud of yourself working for an illegitimate rag like the Daily Beast.
Dear Moon Landing Deniers: Sorry I Called You Moon Landing Deniers|Olivia Nuzzi|July 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In 1483 the princes were publicly declared illegitimate by a cleric.
Three Dicks: Cheney, Nixon, Richard III and the Art of Reputation Rehab|Clive Irving|July 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But a large majority also view the government in Kiev as illegitimate.
Ukraine Foreign Minister Speaks of Mistrust—and a Truce|Jamie Dettmer|April 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Britain is not illegitimate because it has a cross on its flag and an Anglican head of a state.
The Real Problem With the American Studies Association's Boycott of Israel|Peter Beinart|December 17, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Estates sufficient to support the highest rank in the peerage were distributed among his illegitimate children.
The History of England from the Accession of James II.|Thomas Babington Macaulay
To the class of mothers of illegitimate children the Commissioners devoted much attention.
English Poor Law Policy|Sidney Webb
We find it advising that the mothers of illegitimate children should, on this ground alone, not be granted outdoor relief.
English Poor Law Policy|Sidney Webb
The population tends slowly to increase; about 45% of the births are illegitimate, and males are more numerous than females.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Part 3|Various
Her baby, when born, is exposed as being illegitimate, but found by a goatherd and brought up—becoming the all but deified Atys.
Ancient Faiths And Modern|Thomas Inman

British Dictionary definitions for illegitimate

illegitimate

/ (ˌɪlɪˈdʒɪtɪmɪt) /

adjective

born of parents who were not married to each other at the time of birth; bastard

forbidden by law; illegal; unlawful

contrary to logic; incorrectly reasoned

noun

an illegitimate person; bastard

Derived forms of illegitimate

illegitimacy or illegitimateness, nounillegitimately, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

illegitimate

Origin of illegitimate

synonym study for illegitimate

OTHER WORDS FROM illegitimate

Words nearby illegitimate

Words related to illegitimate

How to use illegitimate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for illegitimate

Derived forms of illegitimate