illegitimately

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adverb

In an illegitimate manner.

Similar
inauthenticallyillegallyimpermissiblydishonestlyfalsefalsefullyfalselyinsincerely
Opposite
legitimately
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Meanings

adverbillegitimately (comparative more illegitimately, superlative most illegitimately)

comparative more illegitimately · superlative most illegitimately

  1. In an illegitimate manner.

    Synonyms: inauthentically, illegally, impermissibly, dishonestly, false, falsefully, falsely, insincerely · Antonyms: legitimately

Synonyms & antonyms

adverbIn an illegitimate manner.

Similar
inauthenticallyillegallyimpermissiblydishonestlyfalsefalsefullyfalselyinsincerelytruthlesslyunderhandunderhandedunderhandedlyunsincerelyuntrulyuntruthfullycriminallyforbiddenlyillegally
Opposite
legitimately

More synonyms by meaning

adverbin a manner disapproved or not allowed by custom

Similar
illicitly
Opposite
legitimately

adverbof biological parents not married to each other

Similar
out of wedlock
Opposite
legitimately
Also see
criminallydishonestlyfalsefalselyillegallyillicitlylegallyout of wedlockunlawfully

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

From illegitimate + -ly.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

illegitimately. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/illegitimately

MLA

“illegitimately.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/illegitimately. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “illegitimately,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/illegitimately.

Source: illegitimately on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.