illegitimacy
noun
il·le·git·i·ma·cy
ˌi-li-ˈji-tə-mə-sē 
1
: the quality or state of being illegitimate
2
Examples of illegitimacy in a Sentence
she had learned of her illegitimacy while rummaging through old family records in the attic
Recent Examples on the Web
But his comix are best understood as a bottom-up effort to return a neutered art form—one that afforded him untrammeled fantasy as a kid—to a place of illegitimacy and anarchy, shame and desire, surplus and oblivion.
—
Dan Piepenbring, Harper's Magazine, 3 Mar. 2025
The think tank that Putin is pushing rhetoric about Zelensky's illegitimacy to make conditions for Russia to justify violating any future agreement with Ukraine.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 30 Jan. 2025
Should Trump be certified, unless the disability is relieved his administration will labor under a cloud of illegitimacy.
—Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 27 Dec. 2024
Debate moderators World News Tonight anchor and managing editor David Muir and ABC News Live Prime anchor Linsey Davis, also called out the illegitimacy of the claims, repeating city officials’ statements that those stories are not true.
—Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 11 Sep. 2024
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Dan Piepenbring, Harper's Magazine, 3 Mar. 2025
The think tank that Putin is pushing rhetoric about Zelensky's illegitimacy to make conditions for Russia to justify violating any future agreement with Ukraine.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 30 Jan. 2025
Should Trump be certified, unless the disability is relieved his administration will labor under a cloud of illegitimacy.
—Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 27 Dec. 2024
Debate moderators World News Tonight anchor and managing editor David Muir and ABC News Live Prime anchor Linsey Davis, also called out the illegitimacy of the claims, repeating city officials’ statements that those stories are not true.
—Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 11 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for illegitimacy
Cite this Entry
“Illegitimacy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/illegitimacy. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
illegitimacy
noun
il·le·git·i·ma·cy
ˌil-i-ˈjit-ə-mə-sē
: the quality or state of being illegitimate
Legal Definition
illegitimacy
noun
il·le·git·i·ma·cy
ˌi-li-ˈji-tə-mə-sē
: the quality or state of being illegitimate
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