shotgun marriage

noun

1

: a marriage forced or required because of pregnancy

called also shotgun wedding

2

: a forced union

… a spate of brokerage mergers … hastily arranged shotgun marriages …

—John Brooks

Examples of shotgun marriage in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

That was another shotgun marriage put together by a board of directors looking to keep around two great executives, and the two were ultimately inseparable. — Brian Welk, IndieWire, 18 Mar. 2026

In the past the authorities have avoided forcing losses on account-holders after banks have failed, by arranging shotgun marriages with healthy institutions. — The Economist, 10 Oct. 2019

The Warriors have forced shotgun marriages like Paul and Harden, and right now, those two players have helped push Golden State the furthest in a playoff series since Durant joined the team. — Rohan Nadkarni, SI.com, 24 May 2018

Word History

First Known Use

1929, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for shotgun marriage

• intermarriage
• disparage
• miscarriage
• remarriage