illegitimate
gb/ˌɪlɪd͡ʒˈɪtəmɪt/ us/ˌɪlɪd͡ʒˈɪtəmɪt/
C1
English
illegitim, jogtalan, alaptalan, megalapozatlan, házasságon kívül született, törvénytelen
C1
FORMAL
1
Usage pattern:
illegitimate [authority/claim/government/use]
The court ruled that the contract was illegitimate because it had been signed under pressure.
A bíróság úgy ítélte meg, hogy a szerződés érvénytelen, mert nyomás alatt írták alá.
Many voters viewed the military-backed government as illegitimate.
Sok választó illegitimnek tekintette a hadsereg által támogatott kormányt.
The company was accused of using illegitimate means to obtain customer data.
Learner examples
They said the election was illegitimate.
Azt mondták, hogy a választás illegitim volt.
The document was illegitimate and could not be used.
A dokumentum érvénytelen volt, ezért nem lehetett felhasználni.
Common mistake:
Do not use it for every illegal action; it often means lacking proper authority or validity, not simply breaking the law.
Meaning
not legally or officially valid
Collocations
illegitimate government
|illegitimate regime
|illegitimate authority
|illegitimate claim
|illegitimate election
|illegitimate use of power
|illegitimate use of force
|illegitimate purpose
|illegitimate means
|illegitimate business
Synonyms
unlawful (more directly means against the law)
|
unauthorized (emphasizes lack of permission or official approval)
|
invalid (emphasizes not having legal or official effect)
Antonyms
legitimate (lawful, rightful, or officially accepted)
|
lawful (allowed by law)
|
valid (legally or officially effective)
Themes
law
|politics
|authority
|rules
Definition
not allowed or accepted as legal, official, or rightful
Not recognized as lawful, rightful, or officially valid by law, rules, or accepted authority.
C1
FORMAL
2
alaptalan
B2
Usage pattern:
illegitimate [reason/argument/inference/criticism]
She argued that the criticism was illegitimate because it was based on false information.
Azzal érvelt, hogy a bírálat alaptalan volt, mert hamis információkon alapult.
The report warned against making illegitimate assumptions from such a small sample.
A jelentés óva intett attól, hogy ilyen kis minta alapján megalapozatlan feltételezéseket tegyünk.
There may be legitimate concerns about cost, but fear of change is an illegitimate reason to reject the plan.
Learner examples
That is an illegitimate argument.
Ez egy alaptalan érv.
His complaint was not illegitimate, but it was poorly explained.
A panasza nem volt alaptalan, csak rosszul magyarázta el.
Common mistake:
For everyday speech, words like unfair, unreasonable, or not valid are usually more natural.
Meaning
not justified or acceptable
Collocations
illegitimate reason
|illegitimate argument
|illegitimate inference
|illegitimate conclusion
|illegitimate criticism
|illegitimate assumption
|illegitimate question
|illegitimate demand
Synonyms
unjustified (emphasizes lack of good reason or evidence)
|
unfounded (especially used when there is no evidence)
|
improper (emphasizes that something is not suitable or ethically acceptable)
Antonyms
justified (supported by good reasons)
|
reasonable (fair and sensible)
|
valid (acceptable in logic, reasoning, or argument)
Themes
reasoning
|ethics
|argument
|academic
Definition
not fair, reasonable, or based on good reasons
Not supported by good reasons, fair principles, or proper logic; not acceptable as reasonable or proper.
C1
LEGAL
3
Usage pattern:
an illegitimate child; illegitimate offspring
In the nineteenth century, an illegitimate child often had fewer legal rights than other children.
A tizenkilencedik században a törvénytelen gyermekeknek gyakran kevesebb törvényes joguk volt, mint más gyermekeknek.
The records describe him as the king's illegitimate son.
A feljegyzések a király törvénytelen fiaként írják le.
Modern law in many countries no longer gives different treatment to children once called illegitimate.
Learner examples
The word illegitimate can be hurtful when used about a child today.
Az „illegitimate” szó ma bántó lehet, ha egy gyermekre használják.
The old document called her an illegitimate daughter.
A régi irat törvénytelen lányként említette.
Common mistake:
This use can sound old-fashioned or offensive when referring to a person today. Prefer neutral wording such as born to unmarried parents when possible.
Meaning
born outside marriage
Collocations
illegitimate child
|illegitimate son
|illegitimate daughter
|illegitimate offspring
|illegitimate birth
|illegitimate heir
Synonyms
nonmarital (more neutral and mainly legal or technical)
|
born out of wedlock (traditional phrase, also somewhat old-fashioned)
|
born to unmarried parents (clearer and more neutral in modern English)
Antonyms
legitimate (historically or legally, born to married parents)
|
born in wedlock (traditional phrase meaning born to married parents)
Themes
family
|law
|history
Definition
used, especially in older or legal language, for a child whose parents were not married to each other
Born to parents who are not legally married to each other, especially as described in older, legal, or historical contexts.
Grammar
Dictionary form
illegitimate
IPA
GB/ˌɪlɪd͡ʒˈɪtəmɪt/
US/ˌɪlɪd͡ʒˈɪtəmɪt/
Syllables & stress
il - le - git - im - ate (5 syllables)
Stress on 3rd syllable (git)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: illegitimate
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.