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illegitimacy

 - 5 dictionary results

il⋅le⋅git⋅i⋅ma⋅cy

  [il-i-jit-uh-muh-see]
Use illegitimacy in a Sentence
–noun, plural -cies.
the state or quality of being illegitimate.
Origin:
1670–80; illegitim(ate) + -acy
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To illegitimacy
il·le·git·i·ma·cy   (ĭl'ĭ-jĭt'ə-mə-sē)   
n.  

  1. The quality or condition of being illegitimate.

  2. Bastardy.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Cultural Dictionary

illegitimacy

The condition of being born to unmarried parents. It was once considered a mark of disgrace but is generally more accepted now.

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: il·le·git·i·ma·cy
Pronunciation: "i-li-'ji-t&-m&-sE
Function: noun
: the quality or state of being illegitimate
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Encyclopedia

illegitimacy

status of children begotten and born outside of wedlock. Many statutes either state, or are interpreted to mean, that usually a child born under a void marriage is not illegitimate if his parents clearly believed that they were legally married. Similarly, annulment of a marriage usually does not illegitimize the children.

Learn more about illegitimacy with a free trial on Britannica.com.

Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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