illegitimate

/,ili'dʤitimit/
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illegitimate

The couple's marriage was considered illegitimate by the old law.

Definition

  1. Adjective:

    • Not recognized as lawful or valid: Refers to something that lacks legal authority, official sanction, or proper justification.
    • Born to parents not legally married to each other: Describes a person whose biological parents were not lawfully married at the time of their birth.

  2. Noun:

    • A person whose parents were not legally married to each other: An older, now often considered offensive, term for such an individual.
Usage and Examples
  • Adjective (Not lawful/valid):
    • The court ruled the contract was illegitimate and therefore void.
    • He seized power through an illegitimate coup.
  • Adjective (Of birth):
    • In historical dramas, an illegitimate son often could not inherit the title.
    • The law has changed, and children born out of wedlock are no longer termed illegitimate.
Advanced Usage and Nuances
  • The term is strong and formal, often used in legal, political, or historical contexts to deny validity.
  • When referring to birth, the term is now widely seen as pejorative and stigmatizing. Modern, neutral terms like "born out of wedlock" are preferred in everyday language.
  • It can describe abstract concepts: (an argument based on faulty reasoning or false premises).
Variants and Related Words
  • Illegitimacy (noun): The state or condition of being illegitimate.
    • The illegitimacy of the claim was obvious to everyone.
  • Illegitimately (adverb): In an illegitimate manner.
    • The funds were obtained illegitimately.
Synonyms
  • Adjective (Not lawful): Unlawful, illegal, illicit, invalid, unauthorized.
  • Adjective (Of birth): Born out of wedlock (neutral term).
  • Noun: A historical synonym is "bastard" (now highly offensive).
Antonyms
  • Adjective: Legitimate, lawful, legal, valid, authorized.
Idioms and Phrases
  • Illegitimate child: The full phrase historically used to refer to the noun sense. Its use is now generally avoided due to its negative connotations.
    • Historical context: The king had several illegitimate children.
illegitimate

The couple's marriage was considered illegitimate by the old law.

Adjective
  1. of marriages and offspring; not recognized as lawful
  2. contrary to or forbidden by law
    • an illegitimate seizure of power
    • illicit trade
    • an outlaw strike
    • unlawful measures
Noun
  1. the illegitimate offspring of unmarried parents

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