nuptial

adjective nup·tial \ ˈnəp-shəl , -chəl , nonstandard -shə-wəl , nonstandard -chə-wəl \

Updated on: 20 Apr 2018

Definition of nuptial

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

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Examples of nuptial in a Sentence

newlyweds still in a state of nuptial bliss

Recent Examples of nuptial from the Web

And her latest nuptial takeover might be the most extra yet.

— christopher rosa, Glamour, "Taylor Swift’s Wedding Gift to This Fan Is So Good, I Might Propose to a Stranger," 20 Mar. 2018
Pre-nuptial agreements are not legally binding — though they are sometimes upheld — and Britain follows common law, in which judicial rulings and legal precedents help decide a case, rather than ordinances and statutes.

— tara john/london, Time, "How Britain's 'Diva of Divorce' Wins Bumper Payouts for Spouses of the Super-Rich," 15 Mar. 2018
At least one of his ex-wives, Ivana, signed a post-nuptial contract that contained a silencing clause.

— nina burleigh, Newsweek, "Trump vs. Mueller: Is the American Legal System Any Match for the President?," 8 Mar. 2018
This flower is popular in nuptial bouquets, and names a train in a song called the fiddler’s national anthem.

— mary wisniewski, chicagotribune.com, "Why O’Hare needs to grow — and what we can learn from other mega airport expansions," 5 Mar. 2018
While old-school etiquette suggests the bride's family is responsible for the cost of a wedding, in the case of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's upcoming nuptial celebration, the groom's relatives are picking up the tab.

— caroline hallemann, Town & Country, "Who Will Pay for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Wedding?," 29 Jan. 2018
In other parts of the planet, nuptial gifts can mean the bride’s family gives a dowry; in some cultures, mutual dowries are exchanged.

— joshua rapp learn, Smithsonian, "Why Snail Sex Is Like a Box of Chocolates," 20 July 2017
Yes, the Game of Thrones stars are officially — seriously! — engaged, and just announced the nuptial news in their hometown newspaper.

— jamie cuccinelli, Allure, "Kit Harington and Rose Leslie's Engagement Announcement Is Super Formal," 27 Sep. 2017
The two brides sipped sake from Japanese nuptial cups, read a multilingual poem evocative of their connection, and recited the Apache blessing out of respect to the nature that hosted them.

— Vogue, "How to Plan a Nondenominational Wedding," 23 Sep. 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of nuptial

Latin nuptialis, from nuptiae, plural, wedding, from nubere to marry; perhaps akin to Greek nymphē bride, nymph

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

nuptial Synonyms

nuptial

noun

Definition of nuptial

: marriage, wedding —usually used in plural

… preparations were instantly commenced for the approaching nuptials.
—W. H. Prescott

Examples of nuptial in a Sentence

their nuptials will take place at the university chapel

Recent Examples of nuptial from the Web

While foreign royals, leading politicians, and dignitaries won’t have a pew at St. George’s Chapel, the late Princess of Wales’s side of the family will be well represented at the nuptials.

— katie nicholl, Vanities, "How Princess Diana Will Be Part of Prince Harry’s Wedding," 12 Apr. 2018
And though the photographer was not asked to shoot the May 19 nuptials, Giada praised her husband for his now historic images.

— morgan m. evans, Fox News, "Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's engagement photographer reveals 'joyful' shoot details," 10 Apr. 2018
The Prince and Markle’s brew is being made by Windsor & Eton Brewery, a roughly a 5-minute walk from St. George’s Chapel and Windsor Castle where the nuptials will take place.

— emily price, Fortune, "Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Have Their Own Royal Wedding Beer," 9 Mar. 2018
One day after the nuptials, which were held in Jamaica, photos of Jelena nuzzling, kissing, embracing, laughing, nestling, and cuddling, surface to the delight of fans everywhere.

— peggy truong, Cosmopolitan, "A Timeline of Everything Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez Have Done Since Their Reunion," 8 Mar. 2018
This year’s Royal Wedding — already the hottest nuptials on the calendar — just upped the ante for all future marital parties.

— raisa bruner, Time, "Mel B Just Dropped a Major Royal Wedding Hint Involving All the Spice Girls," 27 Feb. 2018
One of the most iconic moments of Prince William and Kate Middleton's 2011 nuptials was their balcony kiss.

— caroline hallemann, Town & Country, "Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Will Have a Carriage Procession Through Windsor on Their Wedding Day," 12 Feb. 2018
Happy Days Forget the limo, hold the Rolls Royce, singer Solange Knowles and her fiance, music video director Alan Ferguson, choose to arrive at their nuptials on bicycles.

— Newsweek, "November 28 Issue," 28 Nov. 2017
According to British wedding site Bridebook, Markle's upcoming wedding is reportedly estimated to cost around $44.9 million, or £32 million, about $20 million more than Prince William and Kate's reported $28 million nuptials.

— morgan m. evans, Fox News, "Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's wedding reported to cost a grand $45 million," 31 Mar. 2018