illegitimacy
illegitimacy Lexical Profile
illegitimacy Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The state or quality of not being authorized by law or not being in accordance with accepted standards, rules, or logic.
"Critics argued that the widespread electoral fraud proved the illegitimacy of the newly formed regime."
The condition of being born to parents who are not married to each other.
"In Victorian society, the social stigma surrounding illegitimacy often prevented children from inheriting family estates."
Word Nuance & Usage
When referring to children born to unmarried parents, the term is increasingly viewed as outdated or stigmatizing in modern usage, though it remains in use in historical and specific legal contexts.
• Rhymes for illegitimacy
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the early 17th century from the adjective 'illegitimate' and the suffix '-cy', ultimately tracing back to Medieval Latin 'illegitimatus', from Latin 'lex' (law).