Meaning & use
bastard child
An old-fashioned and now offensive term for a child born to parents who are not married to each other.
See it in a sentence
In many historical novels, a bastard child was denied any legal claim to family inheritance.
Centuries ago, being labeled a bastard child could bring lasting social shame to a family.
A note on using this word
This term is dated and considered offensive today; modern usage prefers phrases like child born outside marriage.
Words with a similar meaning
This term is best learned through its definition and examples.
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
legitimate child
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