illegitimate
UK/,ɪlɪ'dʒɪtɪmət/US/.ili'dʒitimәt/
TOEFLGREC2
Definitions
adj.
Not authorized by law; not following accepted rules.
非法的，不正当的。
adj.
Born to parents who are not married to each other.
非婚生的（私生的）。
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedil-not, opposite of
+
legitimatechoose, pick, read, gather
=illegitimate
il- (not) + legitimate (lawful) = not lawful, not sanctioned. The 'born out of wedlock' sense comes from the old legal meaning: a child not 'legitimized' by marriage.
Common Collocations
- 1.illegitimate government非法政权
- 2.illegitimate claim不正当的主张
- 3.illegitimate child非婚生子女
Example Sentences
- 1.
The court ruled the seizure illegitimate.
- 2.
Many leaders dismissed the vote as illegitimate.