betroth: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2 / Low Frequency / LiteraryFormal, Literary, Archaic, Legal/Historical
Quick answer
What does “betroth” mean?
To formally promise or engage to marry someone.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To formally promise or engage to marry someone.
To pledge or commit to a future relationship or course of action, though this is archaic or poetic.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Slightly more likely to be encountered in historical/period contexts in both varieties.
Connotations
Connotes tradition, formality, and often a historical or aristocratic setting. Can sound old-fashioned or quaint.
Frequency
Equally rare in modern everyday speech in both UK and US English. Survives in formal announcements, historical novels, and some religious ceremonies.
Grammar
How to Use “betroth” in a Sentence
SVO: They betrothed their daughter to the duke.Passive (most common): She was betrothed to a foreign prince.Reflexive (rare/archaic): He betrothed himself to the cause.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “betroth” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The families agreed to betroth their children to secure the alliance.
- In the novel, she is betrothed to a man she has never met.
American English
- The treaty effectively betrothed the young princess to a foreign power.
- He felt betrothed to his work, with little time for a social life. (poetic/extended)
adverb
British English
- N/A - No standard adverbial form.
American English
- N/A - No standard adverbial form.
adjective
British English
- She introduced him as her betrothed.
- The betrothed couple met only a fortnight before the wedding.
American English
- Her betrothed was waiting at the altar.
- The betrothed pair seemed surprisingly ill-matched.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical, literary, or anthropological studies discussing marriage customs.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation. 'Engaged' is the universal term.
Technical
May appear in specific legal/historical documents or religious texts (e.g., canon law).
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “betroth”
- Using it to mean 'to marry' (e.g., *They betrothed last summer). Incorrect: it's the promise *before* the wedding.
- Using the adjective 'betrothed' as a verb (e.g., *He betrothed her). More common: He *was* betrothed *to* her.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. 'Betroth' means to promise or agree to marry in the future (engagement). 'Marry' is the ceremony or act of becoming spouses.
They are synonyms, but 'betrothed' is more formal, old-fashioned, and can be used for both genders ('my betrothed'). 'Fiancé' (male) and 'fiancée' (female) are the standard modern terms.
Very rarely and poetically. For example, 'He was betrothed to his duty.' This is an archaic, metaphorical extension and not common in modern usage.
Betrothal (the act or state of being betrothed). Example: 'The betrothal was announced in the papers.'
To formally promise or engage to marry someone.
Betroth is usually formal, literary, archaic, legal/historical in register.
Betroth: in British English it is pronounced /bɪˈtrəʊð/, and in American English it is pronounced /bɪˈtroʊð/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “plight one's troth (synonymous, more poetic)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a medieval knight giving his TROTH (an old word for truth/promise) to a lady, saying "Be my TROTH." => Be-troth.
Conceptual Metaphor
MARRIAGE IS A BINDING CONTRACT (betroth focuses on the contractual pledge).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following sentences uses 'betroth' CORRECTLY?