illegitimate

[il-i-jit-uh-mit, il-i-jit-uh-meyt]

adjective

1. born of parents who are not married to each other; born out of wedlock.

   an illegitimate child.

2. not legitimate; not sanctioned by law or custom.

3. unlawful; illegal.

   an illegitimate action.

4. irregular; not in good usage.

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

6. Obsolete.,  (formerly, in London)

   1. 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.

   2. acting in or producing such productions.

noun

1. a person recognized or looked upon as illegitimate.

verb (used with object)

illegitimated, illegitimating 

1. to declare illegitimate.

illegitimate

/ ˌɪlɪˈdʒɪtɪmɪt /

adjective

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

2. forbidden by law; illegal; unlawful

3. contrary to logic; incorrectly reasoned

noun

1. an illegitimate person; bastard

Other Word Forms

• illegitimately adverb
• illegitimacy noun
• illegitimateness noun
• illegitimation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of illegitimate¹

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

Synonym Study

See illegal.

Example Sentences

In court documents, his lawyers called the claims "illegitimate."

From BBC

The US said Prost, the Canadian judge, is sanctioned for an investigation into US personnel in Afghanistan, adding that Khan and Niang are both responsible for "illegitimate actions against Israel".

From BBC

“This is illegitimate, this is a wrongful use of power, and I will not condone it, and I don’t want to be a part of setting a very bad and low precedent for future legislators.”

From Salon

Putin considers Zelensky illegitimate and views him as responsible for Ukraine's growing proximity to the West.

From BBC

We need to go to the third illegitimate threat that the chief justice warned us about: the spreading of disinformation.

From Salon

Related Words

• illegal 
• illicit 
• improper 
• invalid 
• unauthorized 
• unconstitutional 
• unlawful