arranged marriage

noun

ar·​ranged marriage ə-ˈrānjd- How to pronounce arranged marriage (audio)
plural arranged marriages
: a marriage in which the spouses are chosen for each other by their parents

Examples of arranged marriage in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Millions of people have arranged marriages across the world that are extremely successful, and this film really highlights and celebrates the differences between Eastern and Western culture, in a way that feels totally nonjudgmental and truthful. Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 May 2023 Female friendship, our reviewer, Tatjana Soli, noted, is tested here by class differences, arranged marriages and wartime atrocities. Jennifer Krauss, New York Times, 17 Apr. 2020 For a long time, Raghda and Rafaa seemed fated to retrace the path of their five older sisters: arranged marriages while still young; children soon thereafter; faces covered with the niqab, the black veil that reveals only the eyes. Vivian Yee, New York Times, 14 Mar. 2020 As India has developed, women have become better educated and more empowered, and arranged marriages have declined. Dana G. Smith, Scientific American, 1 Dec. 2018 Legal loopholes at the federal and state levels have allowed forced and arranged marriages to continue, lawmakers and activists fighting to end the practice say. NBC News, 12 Aug. 2019 But for young, American Muslims, whose parents or grandparents adhered to more traditional and strict family obligations in dating, or had arranged marriages, the pull of familial expectations can be tough. Monica Haider, Teen Vogue, 30 July 2019 As a result, many families hastily arrange marriages for unmarried girls and women who are pregnant through rape. Susannah Savage, Washington Post, 22 May 2018 These are arranged marriages: Each contrada meets its horse for the first time just four days before the race. Dwight Garner, New York Times, 16 Apr. 2018

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'arranged 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

First Known Use

1859, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of arranged marriage was in 1859

Dictionary Entries Near arranged marriage

Cite this Entry

“Arranged marriage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/arranged%20marriage. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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