What does bastardising mean?
Bastardising means deliberately corrupting, distorting, or spoiling something that previously had a recognizable form or value. It is especially used for changes to a literary work, language, tradition, or institution, where the result is portrayed as a debased or unrecognizable version of the original. The word is strongly pejorative and conveys not merely careless modification but a degree of contamination or degradation. Bastardising also has an older, now comparatively rare literal sense involving the declaration or treatment of a person as illegitimate. This development reflects the verb's connection with "bastard," historically a term for a child born outside marriage and, by extension, for something of supposedly low or irregular status. The spelling is normally British, although American writers generally prefer "bastardizing." The present participle form is particularly common in criticism of adaptations, translations, revivals, and other forms of creative reinterpretation.
verb (present participle)To corrupt, distort, or spoil something, especially by making improper or damaging changes. Its older literal sense is to declare or treat a person as illegitimate.
- To corrupt, distort, or spoil something, especially a work, language, institution, or tradition.
- To declare or treat a person as illegitimate; now chiefly historical or literary.
"What began as a faithful adaptation became an exercise in bastardising the original novel."
"The screenwriter was accused of bastardising the novel by turning its protagonist into a cartoon villain."
"In the play, the king's decree bastardises both his nephews and effectively destroys their claim to the throne."
Long before it meant "corrupt," bastardising had a shockingly literal meaning: declaring someone illegitimate.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does bastardising come from?
Bastardising is the British-spelled present participle of bastardise, formed from the established English word "bastard" and the suffix "-ise." The word "bastard" entered Middle English from Old French bastart. Historically, the verb could refer literally to making someone illegitimate; it later acquired the figurative sense of corrupting or degrading something, by extension of the social stigma attached to illegitimacy.
Related word forms
How bastardising is actually used
The verb is pejorative and usually figurative. Its literal sense concerning illegitimacy is now rare and chiefly historical or literary. British English uses "bastardise" and "bastardising," while American English generally uses "bastardize" and "bastardizing."