love child

American  

noun

1. a child born out of wedlock.

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love child British  

noun

1. euphemistic an illegitimate child; bastard

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Etymology

Origin of love child

First recorded in 1795–1805

Example Sentences

The variety is a love child of the Honeycrisp and a more robust Enterprise apple, producing an eating experience that is reminiscent of its parent but slightly more tart and dense.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 15, 2025

The sour and spicy noodle broth, traditionally topped with meat or seafood, is the love child of Malaysian, Indonesian and Singaporean cuisine, though each tries to claim it.

From BBC • Oct. 31, 2023

Mr. Trump has denied the affairs and the purported love child.

From Washington Times • Apr. 6, 2023

Madani’s work is like a truant love child of scatological transgressions by the late Mike Kelley and the feminist media smarts of artist Barbara Kruger.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 14, 2022

I’d just have to dodge the English guy...who maybe is Guillermo’s son...a love child he didn’t know about until recently, who grew up in England.

From "I'll Give You the Sun" by Jandy Nelson