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 So begins a historical thriller abounding in surefire ingredients: murder, conspiracy, forgery, false witness, romance and illegitimacy. Katherine A. Powers, Washington Post, 18 Jan. 2024 Unsurprisingly, Collins’ works often explored themes of illegitimacy, the precarity of family and the ruptures caused when legal technicalities clashed with emotional bonds. Katherine Hobbs, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Jan. 2024 The illegitimacy of stylists who can’t do coily hair textures has been further called into question by a new law in New York that will require all cosmetology students in New York to learn how to do textured hairstyles. Tayler Adigun, Essence, 7 Dec. 2023 Their base shared Trump’s belief in the illegitimacy of the outcome, but privately the Party’s top leaders admitted that the President was unhinged. Jonathan Blitzer, The New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2023 Staying in 📖 Latina comedian Aida Rodriguez tackles the shame of ‘illegitimacy’ in a new memoir. Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2023 Despite high illegitimacy rates, the case of the American whaling island of Nantucket suggests that crew regions had lower than normal birthrates, which meant fewer years spent pregnant and less risk of death in childbirth. James Belich, Fortune, 22 Jan. 2023 Scalia’s focus on the court’s illegitimacy in these dissents is part of the conservative legal movement’s worldview, not a departure from it. Matt Ford, The New Republic, 10 May 2023 But, because of its illegitimacy, there was little remorse in spending it. Joseph Lezza, Longreads, 30 Mar. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'illegitimacy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1680, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of illegitimacy was in 1680

Dictionary Entries Near illegitimacy

Cite this Entry

“Illegitimacy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/illegitimacy. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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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