wedlock

noun

wed·​lock ˈwed-ˌläk How to pronounce wedlock (audio)
: the state of being married : marriage, matrimony
Phrases
out of wedlock
: with the natural parents not legally married to each other

Examples of wedlock in a Sentence

joined the happy couple in holy wedlock
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In 1918, Soviet women were given the right to higher education, equal pay, no-fault civil divorce, child support (including for children born out of wedlock), paid maternity leave, and access to free maternity hospitals. Julia Ioffe, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2025 The vehement characters DiCaprio and Taylor inhabit end up having a daughter out of wedlock during a time where their society is on the brink of anarchy. Essence, 18 Sep. 2025 Births out of wedlock in Korea, which has the lowest TFR in the world, are frowned upon. Daniel Moss, Mercury News, 4 Sep. 2025 My knee baby, Ivy, was twenty and studying music over at Ole Miss, and Manny was going into his senior year, set to be salutatorian—all with no children out of wedlock, thank you, Jesus. Literary Hub, 20 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for wedlock

Word History

Etymology

Middle English wedlok, from Old English wedlāc marriage bond, from wedd pledge + -lāc, suffix denoting activity

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of wedlock was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wedlock.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wedlock. Accessed 25 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

wedlock

noun
wed·​lock ˈwed-ˌläk How to pronounce wedlock (audio)
: the state of being married

More from Merriam-Webster on wedlock

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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