Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

marriage

noun
mar·riage | \ ˈmer-ij , ˈma-rij \

Definition of marriage 

1a 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 poetry —J. T. Shawcross

Synonyms Usage of marriage More Example Sentences Learn More about marriage

Keep scrolling for more

Synonyms for marriage

Synonyms

conjugality, match, matrimony, wedlock

Visit the Thesaurus for More 

Usage of marriage: Usage Guide

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. Her first two marriages ended in divorce. 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
See More

Recent Examples on the Web

 A few hours later, a taxi dropped us at the Las Vegas Office of Civil Marriages. — Noel Anenberg, WSJ, "Don Rickles Will Always Be Our Best Man," 10 Apr. 2017 For centuries, the island was the traditional meeting place to hand off brides and grooms when important royal marriages were arranged between France and Spain. — Ken Jennings, Condé Nast Traveler, "Why Pheasant Island Is Sometimes in France, Sometimes in Spain," 27 Feb. 2017 His marriages to Carol Thompson and Judith Sherman ended in divorce. — Sam Roberts, New York Times, "Max Wilcox, Grammy-Winning Record Producer, Dies at 88," 31 Jan. 2017 Greco is survived by Anders and seven children from previous marriages. — Nardine Saad, latimes.com, "Buddy Greco, who ran with the Rat Pack and had a hit in 'The Lady Is a Tramp,' dies at 90," 12 Jan. 2017 Online court records from Polk County, Florida, show that Hundley had several previous marriages that ended in divorce. — Emily Foxhall, Houston Chronicle, "Deputies fatally shoot armed woman, 71, in Pearland complex," 30 Dec. 2016 Zsa Zsa Gabor, the jet-setting Hungarian actress and socialite who helped invent a new kind of fame out of multiple marriages, conspicuous wealth and jaded wisdom about the glamorous life, died Sunday at her home, her husband said. — Honolulu Star-Advertiser, "Jet-setting Hungarian actress Zsa Zsa Gabor dies at age 99," 18 Dec. 2016 There are no children from any of the marriages, although his third wife had a son, and my grandson helped support the child. — Kwame Anthony Appiah, New York Times, "Should Parents Be Expected to Donate to a Public School?," 22 Nov. 2016 Still, early marriages and poverty are two of the biggest reasons more than 130 million girls are out of school globally. — Beth Murphy, New York Times, "Pashtana’s Lesson," 29 Oct. 2016

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'marriage.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

See More

First Known Use of marriage

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

History and Etymology for marriage

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

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about marriage

Dictionary Entries near marriage

marrer

marri

marriable

marriage

marriageable

marriage bed

marriage broker

Phrases Related to marriage

by marriage

join (someone) in marriage/matrimony

join in marriage

marriage bed

marriage certificate

marriage counseling

marriage guidance

marriage license

plural marriage

propose marriage

Statistics for marriage

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for marriage

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

See more words from the same century

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for marriage

marriage

noun

English Language Learners Definition of marriage

: the relationship that exists between a husband and a wife

: a similar relationship between people of the same sex

: a ceremony in which two people are married to each other

See the full definition for marriage in the English Language Learners Dictionary

marriage

noun
mar·riage | \ ˈmer-ij \

Kids Definition of marriage

1 : the state of being united in a legal relationship as husband and wife

2 : the act of getting married

marriage

noun
mar·riage | \ ˈmar-ij \

Legal Definition of marriage 

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

Keep scrolling for more

More from Merriam-Webster on marriage

See words that rhyme with marriage

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for marriage

Spanish Central: Translation of marriage

Nglish: Translation of marriage for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of marriage for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about marriage

WORD OF THE DAY

viva voce

by word of mouth

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Name that Food Quiz

  • alt-573b465788319
  • Name these cookies!
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Word Winder's CrossWinder

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

TRENDING NOW

  1. Spartan Red Cross Warns of Shelter Conditions

  2. hirsute RIP Burt Reynolds

  3. op-ed NYT Publishes Anonymous Piece

  4. collegiality Kavanaugh Mentions Word in Hearing

  5. mistrial Manafort Guilty on 8 Counts

SEE ALL

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games