illegitimacy

IPA/ˌɪləˈdʒɪtəməsi/
KK[ˌɪlɪdʒˈɪtəməsi]IPA/ˌɪləˈdʒɪtəməsi/

illegitimacy — noun

1. a situation where something lacks the authority of law or goes against basic pri

1.nounB2
Definition

a situation where something lacks the authority of law or goes against basic principles of what is right and fair

Example

The court rejected the case due to the illegitimacy of the evidence-gathering methods.

collocation: illegitimacy of [methods/evidence]

Historians continue to debate the illegitimacy of the 1978 land seizure in the northern province.

collocation: debate the illegitimacy of [something]

Common collocations
  • illegitimacy of [the regime/decision/contract]
  • question the illegitimacy of [something]
  • brand of illegitimacy
Synonyms
  • illegality

    narrower — refers strictly to violation of written law, not general fairness

  • unlawfulness

    formal and legal, similar scope to illegality

  • invalidity

    focuses on lack of legal force rather than moral unfairness

Antonyms
  • legitimacy

    the state of being lawful, valid, or morally acceptable

  • lawfulness

    strict adherence to established law

Grammar Patterns

the illegitimacy of something

Usage Note

Frequently used in legal, political, or ethical discussions rather than everyday conversation. The object of the preposition 'of' is typically an institution, decision, procedure, or method.

Common Mistakes

The illegitimacy of this decision is illegal.
The decision itself is illegal, and its illegitimacy stems from a lack of legal authority.
'illegitimacy' is a quality or status, not an action; it cannot be described as 'illegal' directly.
He committed an illegitimacy.
His actions called the legitimacy of the process into question.
'illegitimacy' is not a countable offense or act; use a different construction.

2. the status of a child whose parents were not married when the child was born

2.nounB2
Definition

the status of a child whose parents were not married when the child was born

Example

In Victorian England, children faced harsh social penalties because of their illegitimacy.

collocation: stigma of illegitimacy

Sofia's novel explores how the stigma of illegitimacy shaped her grandmother's life in rural Portugal.

collocation: stigma of illegitimacy

Common collocations
  • stigma of illegitimacy
  • illegitimacy rate
  • born in illegitimacy
Synonyms
Antonyms
  • legitimacy

    the status of being born to married parents

Grammar Patterns

illegitimacy of [a child/person]

Usage Note

This sense has become less common in modern legal contexts, where terms like 'born outside marriage' or 'non-marital birth' are preferred. However, it still appears in historical writing and legal scholarship.

Common Mistakes

Her illegitimacy was illegal.
In that era, being born to unmarried parents carried a social stigma, but it was not a crime.
illegitimacy in this sense is a status, not an act that can be legal or illegal.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

While 'illegality' and 'unlawfulness' focus strictly on violations of written statutes or regulations, 'illegitimacy' (noun/1) carries a broader meaning that includes moral and ethical dimension — something can be illegitimate without being technically illegal. 'Unlawfulness' is the most formal and legalistic of the three. 'Illegitimate' (adjective) is the adjectival form of 'illegitimacy' and shares the same dual scope; it can describe both legal defects ('an illegitimate government') and birth status. For example, a contract signed under duress may not be strictly 'illegal' but is considered 'illegitimate' because it violates principles of fairness.

illegality ↗unlawfulness ↗illegitimate ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • question of illegitimacy
  • stigma of illegitimacy
  • claim of illegitimacy

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinEnglish

Comes from the Latin word 'illegitimus', formed by adding the negative prefix 'in-' (which changes to 'il-') to 'legitimus' meaning 'lawful'. The word entered English in the late 1500s, first referring to the status of children born outside marriage, and later extending to anything lacking legal or moral authority.

First known use

1680

1680, in the meaning defined at sense 1