natural child

[ nach-er-uhl chahyld, nach-ruhl ]
See synonyms for natural child on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. Law.

    • an illegitimate child; one born of intercourse between people who are not married to each other.

    • (especially in Louisiana) a child conceived by people who are not married to each other, who has been lawfully acknowledged by the father.

Origin of natural child

1
First recorded in 1860–65

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use natural child in a sentence

  • Nearly all the first Medici had natural children, whose careers were invariably brilliant.

    Catherine de' Medici | Honore de Balzac
  • You must always consider that your children will be called natural children, and have their own way to make.

    Night and Morning, Complete | Edward Bulwer-Lytton
  • These rules apply to natural children when affiliated; those not affiliated require the consent of a specially appointed guardian.

  • I held my tongue about the natural children, engendered, to the number of three, in the wantonness of his youth.

    The Coxon Fund | Henry James
  • Come and embrace Himself, and He will set the stamp of natural children upon you.

    The Life of James Renwick | Thomas Houston