love child

Học thuật
Thân thiện
Definition

Noun: - A child born to parents who are not married to each other: This term refers to a person whose biological mother and father were not legally wed at the time of their birth. It is a dated and often euphemistic term.

Usage Examples
  • Noun:
    • The scandal involved a prominent politician and his love child.
    • In the novel, the character discovers she is a love child from a secret affair.
    • The term "love child" was more common in past decades.
Advanced Usage
  • The term is often used in historical, literary, or gossip contexts to describe a child born out of wedlock. It can carry connotations of secrecy or scandal, though it is sometimes used to soften the more judgmental term "illegitimate child." Its use has declined in modern times in favor of more neutral language.
Variants and Related Words
  • Illegitimate child (noun): A more direct, though now often considered outdated or offensive, term for a child born to unmarried parents.
  • Child born out of wedlock (noun phrase): A more formal and descriptive neutral term.
  • Natural child (noun): An archaic legal term with a similar meaning.
Synonyms
  • Offspring of unmarried parents: A descriptive synonym.
  • Non-marital child: A formal, neutral term.
Notes on Usage
  • The term "love child" is considered a euphemism. While it may have been intended to be less harsh, many now consider it dated and potentially stigmatizing. Contemporary language typically uses neutral, descriptive phrases like "child of unmarried parents" or simply avoids highlighting the parents' marital status unless legally relevant.
Noun
  1. the illegitimate offspring of unmarried parents

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