nuptial

1 of 2

adjective

nup·​tial ˈnəp-shəl 

-chəl,

nonstandard

-shə-wəl 

nonstandard

-chə-wəl 

1

: of or relating to marriage or the marriage ceremony

nuptial vows

nuptial bliss

2

: characteristic of or occurring in the breeding season

nuptial flight

nuptial

2 of 2

noun

: marriage, wedding

—usually used in plural

… preparations were instantly commenced for the approaching nuptials.

—W. H. Prescott

Synonyms

Adjective

• marital
• wedded

Noun

• wedding
• marriage

Examples of nuptial in a Sentence

Adjective

newlyweds still in a state of nuptial bliss

Noun

their nuptials will take place at the university chapel

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

No word, if Lively and Reynolds are going to Swift’s wedding with repeat Super Bowl champ and Kansas City Chief player Travis Kelce – but then again there is no word when that American royalty nuptial day is happening and who is going besides Swift and Kelce. —Dominic Patten, Deadline, 12 Sep. 2025

The princess bride was escorted down the aisle by her father, the future reigning prince of Liechtenstein, and the nuptial mass music was performed by the St Florin Vaduz Church Choir and Schola St Florin. —Janine Henni, People.com, 1 Sep. 2025

Noun

For her nuptials, Jackie wore an ivory silk taffeta gown with a portrait neckline and bouffant skirt, which was designed by Ann Lowe. —Ariana Quihuiz, PEOPLE, 12 Sep. 2025

Despite the name, Italian wedding soup has nothing to do with nuptials. —Robin Miller, AZCentral.com, 11 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French nuptial, nupcial, borrowed from Latin nuptiālis "of a marriage or wedding," from nuptiae "marriage, wedding" (from nupta "married woman, bride," noun derivative from feminine of nuptus —past participle of nūbere "[of a woman] to get married"— + -iae, plural of -ia, denominal suffix of appurtenance) + -ālis -al entry 1 — more at nubile

Noun

derivative of nuptial entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

circa 1555, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

nuptial

1 of 2 adjective

nup·​tial ˈnəp-shəl  -chəl 

1

: of or relating to marriage or a wedding

2

: typical of the breeding season

nuptial

2 of 2 noun

: wedding

—usually used in plural