J. 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
Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Apr. 2024
He is survived by his four children (from two marriages) and predeceased by his daughter Aeron, who drowned in the family's pool at age 2 in 1979.
—James Mercadante, EW.com, 11 Apr. 2024
This, Lemon and Malone say, pays respect to the once symbolic way for enslaved people in the American South to recognize their marriages, noting that today this tradition is a way to honor those who did it before them.
—Jason Sheeler, Peoplemag, 6 Apr. 2024
Bryan Anselm—Redux Hak Ja Han’s consolidation of power created a schism that tore apart friendships, marriages, and families.
—TIME, 4 Apr. 2024
Long, unhappy marriages can make anyone angry and bitter.
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
Lately, however, a succession of births, deaths and marriages in the royal family, and several high-profile scandals, have collided with the rise of an internet culture evermore obsessed with celebrity.
—Elizabeth Paton, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2024
The number of marriages in Japan declined by nearly 6% in 2023 from the previous year – dipping below 500,000 for the first time in 90 years, while divorces were up by 2.6% last year, according to official figures.
—Chris Lau, CNN, 4 Apr. 2024
Many Americans think that 1 in 2 marriages ends in divorce today.
—Simon Montlake, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Apr. 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.
Dictionary Entries Near marriage
Cite this Entry
“Marriage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/marriage. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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marriage
noun
Legal Definition
marriage
noun
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