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Added 9 October 2026

illegitimate

/ɪlɪˈd͡ʒɪtɪmət/ noun

In Latin: illegitimus First recorded: 1536 Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about illegitimate at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

The illegitimate offspring of unmarried parents.

adjective

Contrary to or forbidden by law.
an illegitimate seizure of power
Of marriages and offspring; not recognized as lawful.

Origin

First attested in 1536, from Latin illēgitimus, most likely an adapted borrowing of Middle French illegitime, equivalent to il- + legitimate, see -ate (etymology 1, 2 and 3).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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