Pronunciation: [ɪləd͡ʒˈɪtɪmət] (IPA) 
The word "illegitimate" is spelled with three syllables. The first syllable begins with the sound /ɪ/ as in "pin" or "sit". The second syllable includes the sound /l/ as in "lip" or "love", followed by the sound /ɪ/ again. The final syllable begins with the sound /dʒ/ as in "judge" or "edge", and includes the sound /ɪt/ as in "bit" or "hit". Overall, the IPA phonetic transcription for "illegitimate" is /ɪˈlɛdʒɪtəmət/.
Illegitimate is an adjective that describes something or someone that is not recognized as lawful, authentic, or valid according to established rules, laws, or standards. It can be used to refer to various contexts such as government, relationships, children, or claims.
When referring to a person, illegitimate describes an individual who was born out of wedlock or to parents who are not legally married. In this sense, it implies that the person's birth was not socially accepted or authorized. Historically, illegitimate children have faced societal stigma and legal disadvantages, such as inheritance rights or social status.
Illegitimate can also refer to actions, laws, or practices that are considered improper, unauthorized, or in violation of established norms or legal frameworks. For instance, an illegitimate government might come to power through undemocratic means or without the consent of the people. Similarly, an illegitimate claim may lack proper evidence or support.
Furthermore, illegitimate can describe objects, documents, or certificates that are counterfeit, fraudulent, or not genuine. For example, an illegitimate passport might be a forged document that falsely identifies the holder's identity or citizenship.
Overall, illegitimate is a term that denotes something or someone that lacks legitimacy, validity, or acceptance based on the prevailing rules, customs, or laws in a particular society or context.
• Born out of wedlock; contrary to law; not gendine.
• To prove to be born out of wedlock; to bastardise.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* 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.
The word "illegitimate" originated from the Latin word "illegitimatus", which is a combination of two Latin words: "in" (meaning "not") and "legitimus" (meaning "lawful" or "legitimate"). Over time, the word evolved through Middle English and Old French, eventually becoming "illegitimate" in modern English. It is used to refer to something or someone that is not recognized legally or socially as valid or legitimate, usually in the context of parentage or birth status.
