illegitimacy

noun il·le·git·i·ma·cy \ ˌi-li-ˈji-tə-mə-sē \

Updated on: 12 Apr 2018

Definition of illegitimacy

1 : the quality or state of being illegitimate

2 : bastardy 2

See illegitimacy defined for kids

Examples of illegitimacy in a Sentence

she had learned of her illegitimacy while rummaging through old family records in the attic

Recent Examples of illegitimacy from the Web

The only real solution to structural illegitimacy that will adequately protect these immigrants is comprehensive reform with a path to citizenship.

— helen thorpe, New York Times, "Meet the Dreamers Who Walked 1,500 Miles to Stay in America," 4 Apr. 2018
Washington state’s chairwoman, Tina Podlodowski, said any system that leaves unpledged superdelegates in place would expose the 2020 nominee to charges of illegitimacy, fair or not.

— Washington Post, "Dems pledge to limit superdelegates, but don’t say how," 10 Mar. 2018
What if we were born today — when society allows unwed mothers greater latitude to choose to raise their children, when the stigma of illegitimacy has subsided?

— Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Like a generation of women, my unwed birth mother kept a lifelong secret: Me," 8 Mar. 2018
Carnival krewes took their political arguments to the streets and manipulated their festive displays to provide evidence of the illegitimacy and incongruity of black citizenship.

— frederick staidum jr., The Root, "Robert E. Lee Beads Bring Mardi Gras’ Historic Racism Full Circle," 17 Feb. 2018
In 1983, Washington and Moscow took steps that heightened the uncertainty, darkly hinting at each other’s illegitimacy and threats of massive retaliation, in a contest for nuclear supremacy, and survival.

— max fisher, The Seattle Times, "Hawaii false alarm hints at thin line between mishap and nuclear war," 14 Jan. 2018
Bonds’s connection to PEDs has cast a shadow of illegitimacy over his achievements in the eyes of many.

— jared diamond, WSJ, "Giancarlo Stanton Stokes Baseball’s Great Home-Run Debate," 11 Sep. 2017
Her parents were frantic dissemblers who struggled to conceal scandals of illegitimacy, abandonment and institutionalization.

— parul sehgal, New York Times, "Vivian Maier, Through a Clearer Lens," 31 Oct. 2017
Almost 30 years ago, in a stinging and solitary dissent about the illegitimacy of the independent counsel law, Justice Antonin Scalia noted the Constitution vests all executive authority in the president.

— william mcgurn, WSJ, "Lock One Up, Mr. Grassley," 25 Sep. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'illegitimacy.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.