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 of nuptial

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

Famous guests who will reportedly attend the post-nuptial party include Elton John, Charli XCX, Mark Ronson, and Donatella Versace. —Sharareh Drury, Entertainment Weekly, 2 June 2026

Glittering nuptial celebrations are growing domestically, those in the industry say. —Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 21 May 2026

Noun

Moriarty, who plays Jack's love interest Annie/Starlight on The Boys, reflected on his nuptials while exclusively chatting with PEOPLE on May 6 at a Sony Pictures Television FYC event in California. —Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 9 June 2026

That’s the only thing anybody really knows for sure, considering how little information about their impending nuptials is out there, other than the fact that Swift and Kelce are indeed getting married… at some point… somewhere. —Alli Rosenbloom, CNN Money, 9 June 2026

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

Rhymes for nuptial

• antenuptial

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