bastard

/ˈbæstərd/
noun
  1. A person who is considered unpleasant, cruel, or unfair (used as a mild insult, not vulgar).
    • That bastard stole my parking spot after I waited for ten minutes.
    • Don't be such a bastard—share the last cookie with your sister.
    • He called his boss a bastard for making everyone work on the holiday.
  2. A person whose parents were not married at the time of their birth (now often considered outdated or offensive; used historically).
    • In medieval times, a bastard had fewer legal rights than a legitimate child.
    • She discovered her great-grandfather was a bastard, born to an unmarried mother.
    • The king's bastard son was never allowed to inherit the throne.
adjective
  1. Not genuine, authentic, or pure; false or inferior.
    • The antique dealer was arrested for selling bastard copies of famous paintings.
    • This bastard version of the software crashes constantly.
    • They served a bastard wine that tasted nothing like the real French vintage.
  2. Born to parents who are not married (historical or formal use).
    • The law once treated bastard children differently from those born in wedlock.
    • The bastard child was raised by his mother's family in a small village.
    • In some old stories, a bastard son must prove his worth to gain respect.
What does "bastard" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean