ILLEGITIMACY Meaning and
Definition
-
Illegitimacy refers to the condition or quality of being born out of wedlock, thereby lacking the legal and social recognition typically granted to children born within the confines of a marriage. The term is generally used to denote a child who is born to parents who are not legally married to each other at the time of the child's birth.
Historically, illegitimacy carried a significant social stigma, often leading to the marginalization and discrimination of the child and their mother. However, as societal attitudes have evolved, the negative connotations and discrimination associated with illegitimacy have diminished in many parts of the world. Laws and social perceptions have gradually changed to provide equal rights and opportunities for children, regardless of the marital status of their parents.
The concept of illegitimacy varies across cultures and legal systems. In some countries, children born outside of marriage were considered "bastards" and faced significant disadvantages in inheritance, rights, and social standing. However, with increasing recognition of the importance of individual rights and equality, laws have been enacted to ensure the protection and equal treatment of all children, regardless of their parents' marital status.
In a broader sense, the term "illegitimacy" can also be used metaphorically to describe something that is seen as lacking legitimacy, validity, or authenticity. For example, an illegitimate claim or argument is one that lacks proper evidence or authority to support its validity.
-
• State of being illegitimate.
• The state of being born out of wedlock.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Top Common Misspellings for ILLEGITIMACY *
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
Other Common Misspellings for ILLEGITIMACY
Etymology of ILLEGITIMACY
The word "illegitimacy" is derived from the combination of two Latin words: "illegitimus" and "itas".
The first part, "illegitimus", is composed of two components: "il-" which means "not" or "without", and "legitimus", which means "lawful" or "legitimate".
The second part, "-itas", is a Latin suffix that is used to indicate the state or quality of something.
Therefore, when these two parts are combined, "illegitimacy" essentially means the state or quality of being not lawful or not legitimate.
Similar spelling words for ILLEGITIMACY
Infographic
Add the infographic to your website:
