Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

open marriage

noun

Definition of open marriage

: a marriage in which the partners agree to let each other have sexual partners outside the marriage

See open marriage defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of open marriage

1971

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year
NEW! Time Traveler

OPEN MARRIAGE Defined for English Language Learners

open marriage

noun

Definition of open marriage for English Language Learners

  • : a marriage in which both people agree to allow each other to have sex with other people

Learn More about open marriage

  1. See words that rhyme with open marriage

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up open marriage? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

WORD OF THE DAY

balmy

play

soothing, mild, or foolish

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. asylum 'protection from arrest and extradition given especially to political refugees'

  2. insubordinate 'disobedient to authority'

  3. promulgate 'to make known by open declaration'

  4. epochal 'momentous or unparalleled'

  5. clemency 'merciful treatment of someone who could be given harsh punishment'

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

open marriage

Test Your Vocabulary

Name More Food!

  • red-fruit
  • Name that Fruit!
True or False

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Add Diction

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

TAKE THE QUIZ

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