bridal

1 of 2

noun

brid·​al ˈbrī-dᵊl How to pronounce bridal (audio)
: a marriage festival or ceremony

bridal

2 of 2

adjective

1
: 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 of bridal in a Sentence

Noun an old-fashioned country bridal
Recent Examples on the Web
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
In addition to the lack of tiara, Camilla opted to go with less traditional bridal looks for her big day. Meredith Kile, People.com, 4 July 2025 Only recently have some of the traditional aspects of bridal wear first popularized by Victoria been updated for modern times. Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 30 June 2025
Adjective
Brody also shared sweet footage of the newlyweds feeding a slice of wedding cake to their 2-year-old daughter, Honey Raye, who wore a white dress to match her mom’s bridal look. Escher Walcott, People.com, 14 July 2025 The launch further broadened the fashion company’s scope, which encompasses ready-to-wear, couture, bridal, accessories, eyewear, childrenswear, watches and fragrances. Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 10 July 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

Adjective

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bridal was before the 12th century

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Cite this Entry

“Bridal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bridal. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

bridal

1 of 2 noun
brid·​al ˈbrīd-ᵊl How to pronounce bridal (audio)

bridal

2 of 2 adjective
: of or relating to a bride or a wedding

More from Merriam-Webster on bridal

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