: of or relating to a bride or a wedding : nuptial
2
: intended for a newly married couple
a bridal suite
Did you know?
A secondary meaning of Old English ealu, the ancestor of Modern English ale, was “feast, banquet,” at which the drinking of ale was a prominent activity. There were a number of these feasts and banquets that survived into the 19th century, but the oldest and best-established was the bride-ale, or wedding feast, attested in Old English as brydealu. In Middle English the ale half of the word had lost its stress and was associated with the noun suffix –al (as in funeral) and the adjective suffix (as in parental). By the 18^th^ century, bridal was perceived primarily as an adjective, as it is today.
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
Fans got to see the Only Murders in the Building actress in a stunning wardrobe of bridal looks in photos shared on Instagram of her nuptials, which took place in California.—Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 19 Oct. 2025 So far, we've been treated to a close look at three Ralph Lauren bridal gowns worn by the 33-year-old pop star on her big day.—Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 11 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Along with ready-to-wear pieces, Perry’s eponymous brand features bridal designs.—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 17 Oct. 2025 Another bridal designer, Christian Siriano, had a more specific idea about what Swift would choose.—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 16 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bridal
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English bridale, from Old English brȳdealu, from brȳd + ealu ale — more at ale
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above
Share