Noun: illegitimacy ,i-li'ji-tu-mu-see
- Unlawfulness by virtue of not being authorized by or in accordance with law
"The illegitimacy of the regime was widely recognized by the international community"
- The status of being born to parents who were not married
"In medieval times, illegitimacy could affect inheritance rights";
- bastardy [archaic], bar sinister
Derived forms: illegitimacies
Type of: position, status, unlawfulness
Antonym: legitimacy
Encyclopedia: Illegitimacy