illegitimate
gb/ˌɪlɪd͡ʒˈɪtəmɪt/ us/ˌɪlɪd͡ʒˈɪtəmɪt/
C1
English
Senses
0 senses
adjective
formal
C1
property
1
not legally or officially valid
not allowed or accepted as legal, official, or rightful
Usage pattern:
illegitimate [authority/claim/government/use]
Common mistake:
Do not use it for every illegal action; it often means lacking proper authority or validity, not simply breaking the law.
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)
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
Themes
law
|politics
|authority
|rules
Examples
- The court ruled that the contract was illegitimate because it had been signed under pressure.
- Many voters viewed the military-backed government as illegitimate.
- The company was accused of using illegitimate means to obtain customer data.
Learner examples
- They said the election was illegitimate.
- The document was illegitimate and could not be used.
adjective
formal
C1
property
2
not justified or acceptable
not fair, reasonable, or based on good reasons
Usage pattern:
illegitimate [reason/argument/inference/criticism]
Common mistake:
For everyday speech, words like unfair, unreasonable, or not valid are usually more natural.
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)
Collocations
illegitimate reason
|illegitimate argument
|illegitimate inference
|illegitimate conclusion
|illegitimate criticism
|illegitimate assumption
|illegitimate question
|illegitimate demand
Themes
reasoning
|ethics
|argument
|academic
Examples
- She argued that the criticism was illegitimate because it was based on false information.
- The report warned against making illegitimate assumptions from such a small sample.
- 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.
- His complaint was not illegitimate, but it was poorly explained.
adjective
legal
C1
property
3
born outside marriage
used, especially in older or legal language, for a child whose parents were not married to each other
Usage pattern:
an illegitimate child; illegitimate offspring
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.
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)
Collocations
illegitimate child
|illegitimate son
|illegitimate daughter
|illegitimate offspring
|illegitimate birth
|illegitimate heir
Themes
family
|law
|history
Examples
- In the nineteenth century, an illegitimate child often had fewer legal rights than other children.
- The records describe him as the king's illegitimate son.
- 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.
- The old document called her an illegitimate daughter.
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.