bar sinister

noun

plural bars sinister or bar sinisters

1

: a supposed heraldic charge widely believed to be a mark of bastardy

2

: the fact or condition of being born to parents who are not married to each other

Synonyms

• bastardy
• illegitimacy
• spuriousness

Examples of bar sinister in a Sentence

back in the days when the bar sinister was a real obstacle to social acceptance

Word History

First Known Use

1823, in the meaning defined at sense 1