bastardy: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Archaic, Legal/Historical
Quick answer
What does “bastardy” mean?
The state or condition of being born to parents who are not married to each other.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The state or condition of being born to parents who are not married to each other; illegitimacy.
The legal status of being illegitimate; historically, a term used to denote inferior status or rights. Can be used metaphorically to describe something as spurious, counterfeit, or of inferior origin.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The term is equally archaic in both varieties.
Connotations
Strongly negative and archaic. Associated with historical stigma and legal discrimination.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both. Slightly more likely to be encountered in British historical/legal texts due to the longer history of common law on the subject.
Grammar
How to Use “bastardy” in a Sentence
The bastardy of [noun phrase] was established.He was accused of bastardy.Laws concerning bastardy were harsh.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical, legal, or literary studies to discuss inheritance laws, social history, or metaphorical concepts.
Everyday
Not used; considered offensive.
Technical
A precise term in historical English law.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “bastardy”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “bastardy”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bastardy”
- Using it in modern contexts to describe people (offensive).
- Confusing it with 'bastardization' (corruption of something).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, when used to describe a person's birth status in a contemporary context, it is considered offensive and archaic. Its appropriate use is restricted to historical or technical legal discussion.
The neutral modern term is 'illegitimacy', though even this is becoming less common in favour of descriptive phrases like 'born to unmarried parents' to avoid stigma.
Yes, in literary or rhetorical contexts, it can describe something as counterfeit, false, or of inferior origin (e.g., 'the bastardy of his argument was evident'). This usage is rare and stylised.
It is a noun. There is no verb 'to bastardy'. The related verb is 'to bastardize' (to corrupt or debase), which has a different meaning.
The state or condition of being born to parents who are not married to each other.
Bastardy is usually formal, archaic, legal/historical in register.
Bastardy: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbɑː.stə.di/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbæs.tɚ.di/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(archaic) A child of bastardy”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the historical 'Bastard' (illegitimate child) + the suffix '-y' (state or condition). It's the *state* of being a bastard.
Conceptual Metaphor
ILLEGITIMACY IS INFERIORITY / FALSE ORIGIN IS ILLEGITIMACY (e.g., 'a bastardy claim' meaning a false claim).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'bastardy' most appropriately used today?