1
be an illegitimate
现代英语中，作为名词的 illegitimate 较为罕见，多用于法律或历史语境。
In some societies, to be an illegitimate was a great misfortune.
在某些社会中，作为非婚生子女是极大的不幸。
私生子；非婚生子女
先理解核心含义，再看它在真实句子里的用法。
私生子；非婚生子女
a person born to unmarried parents
In some societies, to be an illegitimate was a great misfortune.
在某些社会中，作为非婚生子女是极大的不幸。
未婚父母所生的人。
A person born to unmarried parents.
未婚父母所生的非婚生子女
the illegitimate offspring of unmarried parents
In the 19th century, an illegitimate often faced discrimination in society.
在19世纪，私生子常常面临社会歧视。
The inheritance was contested by the deceased's illegitimate.
遗产被死者的私生子提出异议。
Many illegitimates were abandoned in orphanages during that era.
在那个时代，许多私生子被遗弃在孤儿院。
现代英语中，作为名词的 illegitimate 较为罕见，多用于法律或历史语境。
In some societies, to be an illegitimate was a great misfortune.
在某些社会中，作为非婚生子女是极大的不幸。
The illegitimates were not allowed to inherit the throne.
非婚生子女不被允许继承王位。
Not this
He is a illegitimate.
Use this
He is an illegitimate.
冠词错误：illegitimate 以元音音素 /ɪ/ 开头，因此不定冠词要用 an 而不是 a。
Not this
They are illegitimate.
Use this
They are illegitimates.
词性混淆：illegitimate 作名词（非婚生子女）时是可数名词，有复数形式 illegitimates；用形容词形式无法直接指代人，应使用名词复数。
Focus on the distinctions below. Other candidates are kept compact until a reliable usage note is available.
非婚生子女
She gave birth to an illegitimate child.
她生下了一个非婚生子女。
成为非婚生子女的父亲
He fathered an illegitimate child.
他成为了一个非婚生子女的父亲。
婚生与非婚生
The law treats legitimate and illegitimate children differently.
法律对婚生子女和非婚生子女区别对待。
Use illegitimate naturally, then get feedback on meaning, tone, grammar, and phrasing.
Revisit a common error or keep this word in your review list.
il（不）+ legitimate（合法）= 不合法的孩子，即非婚生子女。联想：不合法身份。
语域：formal 常见场景：法律文书、正式讨论 通常用于正式或法律语境，带有一定陈旧或贬义色彩。
Words ending in '-imate' are included for spelling comparison. Only 'legitimate' shares the exact '-itimate' suffix of 'illegitimate', but its pronunciation differs in the final syllable. No common words are perfect rhymes.
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.