illegitimacy

noun

il·​le·​git·​i·​ma·​cy ˌi-li-ˈji-tə-mə-sē How to pronounce illegitimacy (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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 See All Example Sentences for illegitimacy

Word History

First Known Use

1680, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of illegitimacy was in 1680

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Cite this Entry

“Illegitimacy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/illegitimacy. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

illegitimacy

noun
il·​le·​git·​i·​ma·​cy ˌil-i-ˈjit-ə-mə-sē How to pronounce illegitimacy (audio)
: the quality or state of being illegitimate

Legal Definition

illegitimacy

noun
il·​le·​git·​i·​ma·​cy ˌi-li-ˈji-tə-mə-sē How to pronounce illegitimacy (audio)
: the quality or state of being illegitimate

More from Merriam-Webster on illegitimacy

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