out of wedlock

Thân thiện

A child was born out of wedlock.

Definition

Adverb 1. Of parents not legally married to each other: Describes a situation where a child's biological parents were not married at the time of the child's birth. 2. In a manner occurring outside of marriage: Describes an action, especially the birth of a child, that takes place without the framework of marriage.

Usage

The phrase "out of wedlock" is used almost exclusively as an adverb to modify verbs like "born" or "conceived." It describes the marital status of the parents relative to a birth event. * It is a formal or legal term. In everyday conversation, phrases like "to unmarried parents" are often preferred for their neutrality. * The term can carry historical social or legal connotations, though its use today is generally factual.

Examples

• Adverb:
  • The child was born out of wedlock.
  • In the past, children born out of wedlock sometimes had fewer legal rights.
  • The study compared development in children born within and out of wedlock.

Advanced Usage

• The phrase can function as an adjective phrase when hyphenated, though this is less common: .
• It is sometimes used in broader, often figurative, contexts to mean "outside the bounds of accepted social conventions," though this is an extended meaning.
  • The secret deal was made out of wedlock, without the board's approval.

Variants and Related Words

• Illegitimate (adj.): A dated and often pejorative synonym meaning "born of parents not married to each other." "Out of wedlock" is the more standard, less judgmental term in modern usage.
• Nonmarital (adj.): A formal, neutral adjective meaning "occurring outside of marriage" (e.g., ).
• Within wedlock (adv.): The direct antonym, meaning "of parents legally married to each other."

Synonyms

• To unmarried parents
• Illegitimately (dated/formal)

Antonyms

• In wedlock
• Legitimately (in the specific context of birth)
• Within marriage

Học thuật

Adverb

1. of unwed parents
   • he was born out of wedlock
2. of biological parents not married to each other
   • this child was born illegitimately

Từ đồng nghĩa

• outside marriage
• illegitimately