illegitimacy
Born outside marriage
Illegitimacy is the state of being illegitimate—born to unmarried parents, or more broadly, lacking legal or logical validity.
The first sense carried severe social and legal consequences historically: children born out of wedlock couldn't inherit property or titles.
The broader sense applies to governments, claims, or actions that lack proper authority or justification: The coup raised questions about the regime's illegitimacy.
The word implies violation of established rules or norms.
Born to unmarried parents
- lovechildOffspring of unmarried parents
- extramaritalOutside the marriage bond
- nonmaritalOutside wedlock
- unwedNot hitched
fatherless · foundling · paternity · maternity · filiation · unmarried · baseborn · by-blow
Following in order
- disinheritanceExclusion from inheritance
- primogenitureEldest inherits all
- birthrightEntitlement from origin
- heirshipSuccessor's legal standing
lineage · bloodline · dynasty · patrimony · entail · bequest · claimant · pretender
Not officially permitted
- unsanctionedNot officially permitted
- unlawfulForbidden by statute
- spuriousFalse though appearing genuine
- fraudulentInvolving intentional dishonesty
illegality · impropriety · irregularity · nullity · voidness · unconstitutional · unwarranted · usurpation
Painful awareness of failure
- disgraceLoss of honor
- scandalDisgraceful public affair
- tabooCultural or social prohibition
- ostracismBanishment from a group
infamy · reproach · dishonor · discrimination · prejudice · marginalization · condemnation · disapproval
Protective care or control
- guardianshipLegal care of another
- adjudicationFormal decision on disputes
- affiliationFormal organizational connection
- litigationLegal dispute process
court · testimony · evidence · jurisdiction · decree · legislation · jurisprudence · registration
out-of-wedlock
Born to unmarried parents
- lovechildOffspring of unmarried parents
- extramaritalOutside the marriage bond
- nonmaritalOutside wedlock
unwed · fatherless · foundling · paternity · maternity · filiation · unmarried · baseborn · by-blow · spurious
succession
Following in order
- disinheritanceExclusion from inheritance
- primogenitureEldest inherits all
- birthrightEntitlement from origin
heirship · lineage · bloodline · dynasty · patrimony · entail · bequest · claimant · pretender · crown
unauthorized
Not officially permitted
- unsanctionedNot officially permitted
- unlawfulForbidden by statute
- spuriousFalse though appearing genuine
fraudulent · illegality · impropriety · irregularity · nullity · voidness · unconstitutional · unwarranted · usurpation · disputed
shame
Painful awareness of failure
ostracism · infamy · reproach · dishonor · discrimination · prejudice · marginalization · condemnation · disapproval · ignominy
custody
Protective care or control
- guardianshipLegal care of another
- adjudicationFormal decision on disputes
- affiliationFormal organizational connection
litigation · court · testimony · evidence · jurisdiction · decree · legislation · jurisprudence · registration · documentation
- familymother, father, parents, siblings, parent
- legal statuslegal status, legal capacity, civil status, personhood, legal entity
- Stigmasmental illness, HIV, AIDS, homelessness, addiction
- birthrightancestry, bloodline, heredity, parentage, pedigree
- family lifebirth, kinship, childbirth, pregnancy, new baby
- ancestryancestors, kinship, ancestor, clan, ancestry
illegitimacylegitimacy
Lawful or rightful status
legality · lawfulness · validity · authorization · sanction
illegitimacylegitimacy
Lawful or rightful status
validity · propriety · rightfulness · soundness · authenticity
illegitimacypropriety
Correctness of conduct
honesty · rectitude · uprightness · respectability · decency
- illegitimate childChild of unmarried parents
- illegitimate childrenOffspring of unmarried parents
- illegitimate heirOffspring lacking lawful inheritance rights
- illegitimate rulerLeader lacking valid authority