prenuptial

1 of 2

adjective

pre·​nup·​tial (ˌ)prē-ˈnəp-shəl 

-chəl

nonstandard -chə-wəl

: made or occurring before marriage

a prenuptial party

prenuptial

2 of 2

noun

less common variant of prenuptial agreement

: an agreement made between two people before marrying that establishes rights to property and support in the event of divorce or death

Prenuptial agreements have long been used by couples who want to set down the terms of any future divorce before they walk down the aisle.

—Desa Philadelphia

Even though there's a prenup, it's unclear how much of Liz's money Fortensky will end up with …

—Newsweek

Examples of prenuptial in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Discussions about prenuptial or postnuptial agreements felt uncomfortable and unnecessary during periods of personal optimism. — Hossein Berenji, Forbes.com, 26 Feb. 2026

Handing out prenuptial conflict management books is decidedly not romantic. — Amy Lindgren, Twin Cities, 1 Feb. 2025

In the throes of a divorce, practical measures like prenuptial or postnuptial agreements, regular business valuations, and clear separation of personal and business finances can feel cold and clinical. — Sara Khaki, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024

There’s one last guest who’s been invited to this prenuptial reunion, someone who the gang is hoping won’t actually show up. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 2 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1857, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing prenuptial

• prenuptial agreement