Illegitimate
adjective
Not recognized by the law as being legally married or born to parents who are legally married.
He was the illegitimate son of the king.
Often appears as...
- illegitimate child
- illegitimate son
adjective
Not following rules or accepted standards.
His actions were illegitimate and caused harm to others.
Often appears as...
- illegitimate actions
- illegitimate behavior
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
Not rightful or valid.
They considered the ruling to be illegitimate.
Often appears as...
- illegitimate ruling
- illegitimate claim
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
Not recognized by the law as being legally married or born to parents who are legally married.
He was the illegitimate son of the king.
Often appears as...
- illegitimate child
- illegitimate son
adjective
Not following rules or accepted standards.
His actions were illegitimate and caused harm to others.
Often appears as...
- illegitimate actions
- illegitimate behavior
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
Not rightful or valid.
They considered the ruling to be illegitimate.
Often appears as...
- illegitimate ruling
- illegitimate claim
Usage tips
Disapproving
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Legal Context
Used to describe someone's status in relation to laws of inheritance and marriage.
The lawyer clarified that the estate could not be passed to an illegitimate heir.
Pro Tip 2/3Historical Usage
Historically, focused on birth status; now often about legal recognition in various contexts.
The novel set in the 18th century explores the struggles of an illegitimate offspring.
Pro Tip 3/3Sensitive Term
May be seen as offensive; sensitive situations call for terms like 'born out of wedlock'.
In official forms, children are referred to as illegitimate less frequently now.
Pro Tip 1/3Legal Context
Used to describe someone's status in relation to laws of inheritance and marriage.
The lawyer clarified that the estate could not be passed to an illegitimate heir.
Pro Tip 2/3Historical Usage
Historically, focused on birth status; now often about legal recognition in various contexts.
The novel set in the 18th century explores the struggles of an illegitimate offspring.
Pro Tip 3/3Sensitive Term
May be seen as offensive; sensitive situations call for terms like 'born out of wedlock'.
In official forms, children are referred to as illegitimate less frequently now.
Pro Tip 1/3Legal Context
Used to describe someone's status in relation to laws of inheritance and marriage.
The lawyer clarified that the estate could not be passed to an illegitimate heir.
Pro Tip 2/3Historical Usage
Historically, focused on birth status; now often about legal recognition in various contexts.
The novel set in the 18th century explores the struggles of an illegitimate offspring.
Pro Tip 3/3Sensitive Term
May be seen as offensive; sensitive situations call for terms like 'born out of wedlock'.
In official forms, children are referred to as illegitimate less frequently now.
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Video examples
Why should you read...
This first scene is indicative of the way the book bounces between the political and personal over an ever-widening canvas. There are no main characters in "War and Peace." Instead, readers enter a vast interlocking web of relationships and questions. Will the hapless and illegitimate son of a count
Video examples
The great conspiracy...
we don't know Caesar's actual dying words. Some ancient sources claim he said nothing, while others record the phrase, "And you, child?", fueling speculation that Brutus may have actually been Caesar's illegitimate son. But all agree that when Caesar saw Brutus among his attackers,
Video examples
The wars that inspired...
Though his twelve-year-old son was due to succeed him, Edward's younger brother Richard III declared his nephews illegitimate due to their father's secret marriage. He assumed the regency himself and threw the boys in prison. Though no one knows what ultimately became of them,
Video examples
Heather Brooke: My...
impacting us the most, perhaps, the most important decisions that are being made about war and so forth, again we can't just make a Freedom of Information request. It's really difficult. So we're still having to rely on illegitimate ways of getting information, through leaks.
Video examples
A Saudi woman who dared...
illegitimate children, even drug abuse, prostitution in countries where women drive is higher than countries where women don't drive. I know, I was like this, I was shocked. I was like, "We are the last country in the world
Video examples
Eric X. Li: A tale of...
Such a system is operationally rigid, politically closed, and morally illegitimate. Well, the assumptions are wrong. The opposites are true. Adaptability, meritocracy, and legitimacy are the three defining characteristics
Video examples
Karen Armstrong: Let's...
And the rabbis and the early fathers of the church who said that any interpretation of scripture that bred hatred and disdain was illegitimate. And we need to revive that spirit. And it's not just going to happen
Video examples
Interview: Bulent Atalay...
Eratosthenes our starkest were much better but the church accepted what Aristotle said and that put science behind Leonardo is really a bundle of contradictions he was an illegitimate
Video examples
Embracing otherness,...
And race is an illegitimate concept which our selves have created based on fear and ignorance. Strangely, these revelations didn't cure my low self-esteem, that feeling of otherness.
Video examples
Severine Autesserre: To...
And the answer is that international interveners deem the resolution of grassroots conflict an unimportant, unfamiliar, and illegitimate task.
Video examples
Why should you read...
This first scene is indicative of the way the book bounces between the political and personal over an ever-widening canvas. There are no main characters in "War and Peace." Instead, readers enter a vast interlocking web of relationships and questions. Will the hapless and illegitimate son of a count
Video examples
The great conspiracy...
we don't know Caesar's actual dying words. Some ancient sources claim he said nothing, while others record the phrase, "And you, child?", fueling speculation that Brutus may have actually been Caesar's illegitimate son. But all agree that when Caesar saw Brutus among his attackers,
Video examples
The wars that inspired...
Though his twelve-year-old son was due to succeed him, Edward's younger brother Richard III declared his nephews illegitimate due to their father's secret marriage. He assumed the regency himself and threw the boys in prison. Though no one knows what ultimately became of them,
Video examples
Heather Brooke: My...
impacting us the most, perhaps, the most important decisions that are being made about war and so forth, again we can't just make a Freedom of Information request. It's really difficult. So we're still having to rely on illegitimate ways of getting information, through leaks.
Video examples
A Saudi woman who dared...
illegitimate children, even drug abuse, prostitution in countries where women drive is higher than countries where women don't drive. I know, I was like this, I was shocked. I was like, "We are the last country in the world
Video examples
Eric X. Li: A tale of...
Such a system is operationally rigid, politically closed, and morally illegitimate. Well, the assumptions are wrong. The opposites are true. Adaptability, meritocracy, and legitimacy are the three defining characteristics
Video examples
Karen Armstrong: Let's...
And the rabbis and the early fathers of the church who said that any interpretation of scripture that bred hatred and disdain was illegitimate. And we need to revive that spirit. And it's not just going to happen
Video examples
Interview: Bulent Atalay...
Eratosthenes our starkest were much better but the church accepted what Aristotle said and that put science behind Leonardo is really a bundle of contradictions he was an illegitimate
Video examples
Embracing otherness,...
And race is an illegitimate concept which our selves have created based on fear and ignorance. Strangely, these revelations didn't cure my low self-esteem, that feeling of otherness.
Video examples
Severine Autesserre: To...
And the answer is that international interveners deem the resolution of grassroots conflict an unimportant, unfamiliar, and illegitimate task.
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Salman Rushdie
Indian Novelist
But there's one thing we must all be clear about: terrorism is not the pursuit of legitimate goals by some sort of illegitimate means. Whatever the murderers may be trying to achieve, creating a better world certainly isn't one of their goals. Instead they are out to murder innocent people.
Quote examples
Alexander Chee
American Writer
War and Peace' holds a strange place in literary history, participating in the crowning of realism as a substantial and serious literary mode in America, even as the novel also contributed to the argument that historical fiction could be by nature dangerous, illegitimate, and inaccurate.
Quote examples
George Monbiot
British Writer
For some of Britain's most powerful people, hunting and shooting are primordial rights, and any challenge to them is treated as illegitimate. They assert ownership not only of the land but also of the social relationships surrounding it.
Quote examples
Michael Badnarik
American Politician
When the state or federal government control the education of all of our children, they have the dangerous and illegitimate monopoly to control and influence the thought process of our citizens.
Quote examples
Noam Chomsky
American Activist
In 1979, Iranians carried out an illegitimate act: They overthrew a tyrant that the United States had imposed and supported, and moved on an independent path, not following U.S. orders.
Quote examples
Morgan Ortagus
American Public Servant
Manufacturing evidence to justify arbitrary, politically motivated detentions is a common tool of the illegitimate former Maduro regime.
Quote examples
Kevin McDonald
Canadian Comedian
What I always say is that we're the illegitimate children of Andy Kaufman and Jerry Lewis.
Quote examples
Rick Warren
American Writer
There are illegitimate parents, but I don't believe there are any illegitimate children.
Quote examples
Eartha Kitt
American Actress
I was an illegitimate, well, I still am an illegitimate child.
Quote examples
Giorgio Chiellini
Italian Athlete
Malice is part of football, I wouldn't call it illegitimate.
Quote examples
Salman Rushdie
Indian Novelist
But there's one thing we must all be clear about: terrorism is not the pursuit of legitimate goals by some sort of illegitimate means. Whatever the murderers may be trying to achieve, creating a better world certainly isn't one of their goals. Instead they are out to murder innocent people.
Quote examples
Alexander Chee
American Writer
War and Peace' holds a strange place in literary history, participating in the crowning of realism as a substantial and serious literary mode in America, even as the novel also contributed to the argument that historical fiction could be by nature dangerous, illegitimate, and inaccurate.
Quote examples
George Monbiot
British Writer
For some of Britain's most powerful people, hunting and shooting are primordial rights, and any challenge to them is treated as illegitimate. They assert ownership not only of the land but also of the social relationships surrounding it.
Quote examples
Michael Badnarik
American Politician
When the state or federal government control the education of all of our children, they have the dangerous and illegitimate monopoly to control and influence the thought process of our citizens.
Quote examples
Noam Chomsky
American Activist
In 1979, Iranians carried out an illegitimate act: They overthrew a tyrant that the United States had imposed and supported, and moved on an independent path, not following U.S. orders.
Quote examples
Morgan Ortagus
American Public Servant
Manufacturing evidence to justify arbitrary, politically motivated detentions is a common tool of the illegitimate former Maduro regime.
Quote examples
Kevin McDonald
Canadian Comedian
What I always say is that we're the illegitimate children of Andy Kaufman and Jerry Lewis.
Quote examples
Rick Warren
American Writer
There are illegitimate parents, but I don't believe there are any illegitimate children.
Quote examples
Eartha Kitt
American Actress
I was an illegitimate, well, I still am an illegitimate child.
Quote examples
Giorgio Chiellini
Italian Athlete
Malice is part of football, I wouldn't call it illegitimate.
Example 1 of 10
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