nuptial

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

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

Kate Mara and Jamie Bell just tied the knot two weeks ago, breaking the nuptial news by revealing their very first wedding photo on Instagram.

— jamie cuccinelli, Allure, "Kate Mara and Jamie Bell Show Off Their Wedding Rings on Instagram," 24 July 2017
This behavior made Koene and his colleagues wonder whether the nuptial gift concept even applied in this case.

— joshua rapp learn, Smithsonian, "Why Snail Sex is Like a Box of Chocolates," 21 July 2017
In the video clip, Kerr welcomes the camera crew with open arms (and a quick wink), before revealing the inspiration behind her nuptial style: the iconic Grace Kelly, whose timeless gown made fashion history back in 1956.

— maria ward, Vogue, "Step Inside Miranda Kerr’s Fairy-Tale Wedding Dress Fitting," 16 July 2017
That fateful game, played a little more than eight years ago, launched a union that is fascinating by even the escalated nuptial standards of professional athletes.

— jack dickey, SI.com, "Grimes Against Humanity: How Brent and Miko navigate their world of social media and the NFL," 13 July 2017
Clearly, however, their nuptial plans changed between then and now as the pair actually wound up hosting their wedding in Mustique, a small, private island that is a part of the Grenadines, a chain of islands in the West Indies.

— emily kirkpatrick, PEOPLE.com, "Tommy Hilfiger's Daughter Ally Hilfiger Was the Ultimate Boho Bride at Her Wedding, Thanks to a Dress Designed by Her Dad," 27 June 2017
Of course, those nuptial plans tend to snowball while the guest list swells.

— jen banowetz, Naperville Sun, "Summer Place goes back in time for 'Father of the Bride'," 21 June 2017
But a bigger obstacle to their wedding was Packer’s decidedly unromantic, 37-page pre-nuptial agreement.

— william d. cohan, Vanities, "James Packer’s Long, Strange Ride from Scientology to Mariah Carey," 19 June 2017
Despite the delay in getting the pre-nuptial agreement negotiated, Packer and Carey continued to make wedding plans.

— william d. cohan, Vanities, "James Packer’s Long, Strange Ride from Scientology to Mariah Carey," 19 June 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

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First Known Use: 15th century

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nuptial Synonyms

Synonyms

conjugal, connubial, married, matrimonial, marital, wedded

Antonyms

nonmarital

Related Words

espoused, matched, mated; bridal, prenuptial; spousal, wifely; affianced, betrothed, committed, engaged, pledged, promised

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

The elegant reception was planned at a Downtown Indianapolis venue, and the groom called the nuptials off a week before — too late to get any money back.

— maureen c. gilmer, Indianapolis Star, "Wedding fail: How to make the most of it," 19 July 2017
But the pair moved their nuptials to May when the judge’s health took a turn for the worse.

— Fox News, "Judge officiates daughter's wedding days before cancer death," 12 July 2017
The lovebirds celebrate their impending nuptials at L.A. gentleman’s club Ace of Diamonds.

— ruth kinane, EW.com, "Keeping up with the craziness: A timeline of Rob Kardashian and Blac Chyna's relationship," 5 July 2017
The nuptials are reportedly taking place at the historic Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, DC.

— jennifer hansler, CNN, "Trump and Pence to attend Treasury Secretary Mnuchin's wedding," 24 June 2017
The next day, guests headed to the Cathedral of San Giusto in Trieste for the nuptials, where Swarovski channeled her inner Kate Middleton with a mesmerizing bridal train measuring nearly 20 feet long.

— braelyn wood, Cosmopolitan, "This Swarovski Heiress's Wedding Is Basically a Real-Life Fairytale," 21 June 2017
The tunes of ABBA come together in this musical comedy set on a Greek island, where one woman tries to discover who her father is in time for her upcoming nuptials.

— kate miller, kansascity.com, "‘Tommy’ is a sign of things to come at Musical Theater Heritage," 7 June 2017
The show will follow the long-time couple as their families blend ahead of their upcoming nuptials in October 17, 2017.

— adelle platon, Billboard, "Gucci Mane & Keyshia Ka'oir Docuseries Headed to BET," 5 June 2017
The nuptials took place in Spiegel's backyard with around 40 guests, according to People.

— bryan alexander, USA TODAY, "Reports: Miranda Kerr marries Snapchat founder Evan Spiegel," 28 May 2017

Origin and Etymology of nuptial

see ¹nuptial

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1555

See Words from the same year

nuptial Synonyms

Synonyms

bridal, espousal, marriage, nuptial (s)

Related Words

match, matrimony, wedlock; union

NUPTIAL Defined for English Language Learners

nuptial

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adjective

Definition of nuptial for English Language Learners

: of or relating to marriage or a wedding ceremony

NUPTIAL Defined for Kids

nuptial

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adjective nup·tial \ ˈnəp-shəl \

Definition of nuptial for Students

:of or relating to marriage or a wedding

nuptial vows

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