marriage

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable or uncountable

   The legal and social relationship between two people who have agreed to live together as partners.

   Grammar: Countable when referring to a particular union; uncountable when referring to the state: 'Their marriage is happy' vs 'Marriage is a big commitment.'

   Patterns

   • marriage to someone
   • a happy marriage
   • the institution of marriage

   Their marriage has lasted for over thirty years.

   She wrote a book about marriage in the twenty-first century.

   After a long courtship, they finally announced their marriage.

2. 2nouncountable

   The ceremony at which two people become married; a wedding.

   Grammar: Often used in the phrase 'the marriage took place' or 'at the marriage'.

   Patterns

   • the marriage ceremony
   • at the marriage
   • perform a marriage

   The marriage took place in a small country church.

   Only close family attended the marriage.

   The priest performed the marriage in front of a few friends.

3. 3nouncountablefigurative

   A close combination of two things that work well together.

   Grammar: Often used figuratively, especially in phrases like 'a marriage of convenience' or 'a marriage of minds'.

   Patterns

   • a marriage of something and something
   • a marriage of convenience

   The design is a marriage of traditional style and modern technology.

   Their business partnership was a marriage of convenience rather than friendship.

Word forms

Common combinations

arranged marriage

In some cultures, an arranged marriage is still common.

same-sex marriage

Same-sex marriage is now legal in many countries.

marriage certificate

You need a marriage certificate to change your name officially.

marriage counselor

They saw a marriage counselor to help with their problems.

propose marriage

He proposed marriage to her on the beach at sunset.

Synonyms and how they differ

wedding

Refers specifically to the ceremony and the party, while 'marriage' can also mean the ongoing relationship.

matrimony

A formal or religious word for the state of being married; it is not used in everyday conversation.

union

A more general word for the joining of two people; it can also refer to a group of workers, so it may be less precise.

Opposites

Word family

marry verb

To become someone's husband or wife.

married adjective

Having a husband or wife.

marital adjective

Relating to marriage, as in 'marital status'.

remarriage noun

The act of marrying again after a divorce or the death of a spouse.

Commonly confused: marriage or wedding?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “marriage”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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