marriage

noun

mar·​riage ˈmer-ij How to pronounce marriage (audio)
ˈma-rij
1
a
see usage paragraph below : the state of being united as spouses in a consensual and contractual relationship recognized by law
b
: the mutual relation of married persons : wedlock
c
: the institution whereby individuals are joined in a marriage
2
: an act of marrying or the rite by which the married status is effected
especially : the wedding ceremony and attendant festivities or formalities
3
: an intimate or close union
the marriage of painting and poetryJ. T. Shawcross
Usage of Marriage

The definition of the word marriage—or, more accurately, the understanding of what the institution of marriage properly consists of—continues to be highly controversial. This is not an issue to be resolved by dictionaries. Ultimately, the controversy involves cultural traditions, religious beliefs, legal rulings, and ideas about fairness and basic human rights. The principal point of dispute has to do with marriage between two people of the same sex, often referred to as same-sex marriage or gay marriage. Same-sex marriages are now recognized by law in a growing number of countries and were legally validated throughout the U.S. by the Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges in 2015. In many other parts of the world, marriage continues to be allowed only between men and women. The definition of marriage shown here is intentionally broad enough to encompass the different types of marriage that are currently recognized in varying cultures, places, religions, and systems of law.

Examples of marriage in a Sentence

It was his second marriage. They have a very happy marriage. She has old-fashioned ideas about marriage. couples living together before marriage Many friends and relatives were present at their marriage. a priest who has performed many marriages a marriage of sweet and spicy flavors a marriage of science and art a marriage between form and function
Recent Examples on the Web In the affidavit and other court records, she was identified as A.R., which were her initials from both of her marriages. Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star, 22 Mar. 2024 The Ben Folds Five frontman detailed his prior marriages in an article for The Sydney Herald in September 2012. Ingrid Vasquez, Peoplemag, 21 Mar. 2024 The number of marriages took a dive around the start of the pandemic, numbers show. Madeline Holcombe, CNN, 17 Mar. 2024 How are some of television’s most chaotic marriages going? Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2024 After the turmoil of her marriages, Ms. von Fürstenberg met the film producer Dino De Laurentiis on a flight in 1966. Alex Williams, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2024 This union lasted yet another decade, from 1979 to 1988, a second eon in rock marriages. Guy Martin, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024 The film includes different scenes that revisit Lopez’s romantic ups and downs, including her previous three marriages, through a surreal, dreamlike lens. Lucas Villa, Rolling Stone, 16 Feb. 2024 My new friends contained the experiences of life in the way that novels did, with chapters involving marriages, careers, wars, intergenerational dramas, travels, dénouements, deaths. Joseph O’Neill, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'marriage.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English mariage, from Anglo-French, from marier to marry

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of marriage was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near marriage

Cite this Entry

“Marriage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/marriage. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

marriage

noun
mar·​riage ˈmar-ij How to pronounce marriage (audio)
1
a
: the state of being united as spouses in a consensual and contractual relationship recognized by law
b
: the mutual relation of married persons : wedlock
c
: the institution whereby individuals are joined in a marriage
2
: an act of marrying
especially : a wedding ceremony
3
: a close union
a marriage of music and verse

Legal Definition

marriage

noun
mar·​riage ˈmar-ij How to pronounce marriage (audio)
1
: the state of being united to a person as spouse in a legal, consensual, and contractual relationship recognized and sanctioned by and dissolvable only by law see also divorce,Obergefell v. Hodges compare civil union
2
: the ceremony containing certain legal formalities by which a marriage relationship is created

More from Merriam-Webster on marriage

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