illegitimate

Not allowed by law, or having no legal right to exist.

• The court rejected his illegitimate claim.
• They seized power through illegitimate means.
• Many citizens refused to obey the illegitimate government.

Similar words: illegal, unlawful

Opposites: legitimate, lawful

Common phrases: illegitimate government, illegitimate rule, illegitimate claim

Born to parents who were not married to each other.

• The records describe him as an illegitimate child.
• Her illegitimate daughter was raised by relatives.
• The novel follows an illegitimate son seeking his father.

Similar words: natural

Opposites: legitimate

Common phrases: illegitimate child, illegitimate son, illegitimate birth

Based on reasoning that does not correctly follow from the facts.

• That is an illegitimate inference.
• The argument rests on an illegitimate assumption.
• These illegitimate conclusions do not follow from the evidence.

Similar words: invalid, unsound

Opposites: valid

Common phrases: illegitimate inference, illegitimate conclusion, illegitimate deduction

Not accepted as a proper or genuine form, especially in language.

• The editor considered this an illegitimate word.
• Older grammarians rejected the expression as illegitimate.
• The essay questions whether this usage is really illegitimate.

Similar words: nonstandard, spurious

Opposites: legitimate

Common phrases: illegitimate word, illegitimate usage, illegitimate form