marriage
HighNeutral to formal
Definition
Meaning
The legally or formally recognised union of two people as partners in a personal relationship.
1. The state or relationship of being married. 2. A combination or mixture of two different elements, institutions, or ideas. 3. In card games, a meld of certain cards.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
In modern contexts, the term is inclusive of same-sex unions. The word 'wedding' refers specifically to the ceremony, while 'marriage' refers to the state/relationship.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal lexical differences; 'marriage licence' (UK) vs. 'marriage license' (US). More pronounced cultural/connotational differences.
Connotations
In British English, may carry stronger associations with tradition and state/church institutions. In American English, can have broader societal/political/legal connotations.
Frequency
Comparably high frequency in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
be in a marriage with [someone]enter into a marriage (with)dissolve/annul a marriagethe marriage between/of [A] and [B]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Marriage of minds”
- “Marriage made in heaven”
- “Shotgun marriage”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare; can appear in HR contexts regarding benefits ('marriage allowance'), or metaphorically ('a marriage of two companies').
Academic
Common in sociology, law, anthropology, and history; often discussed as an institution.
Everyday
Very common in personal, social, and media contexts.
Technical
Used in legal contexts (family law), demography, and theology with precise definitions.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The two companies are set to marriage their resources.
American English
- The director sought to marriage classical themes with modern cinema.
adverb
British English
- None standard. 'Marriage-wise, they are very compatible.' (informal)
American English
- None standard. 'Things are going marriage-ly.' (non-standard, rare)
adjective
British English
- They sought marriage guidance from a counsellor.
- The marriage certificate was filed at the registry.
American English
- They have a strong marriage relationship.
- The marriage license was obtained the day before.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Their marriage is very happy.
- My sister's marriage is next month.
- After a long engagement, they decided to go ahead with the marriage.
- The law recognises both civil and religious marriages.
- The marriage between the two tech giants created a market leader.
- They entered into a marriage of convenience for tax purposes.
- The anthropologist's thesis explored the institution of marriage across three distinct cultures.
- The proposed legislation would redefine the legal parameters of marriage.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'MARRiage' as the 'MARRied' state you 'ARRive' at after a wedding.
Conceptual Metaphor
MARRIAGE IS A JOURNEY ('Their marriage has been a long road.'), MARRIAGE IS A CONTRACT ('The terms of their marriage were clear.'), MARRIAGE IS A MERGER/BLEND ('A perfect marriage of flavours.').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating 'wedding' as 'marriage'. Use 'свадьба' for wedding, 'брак' for marriage. Note: 'брак' also means 'defect' in Russian, leading to potential wordplay confusion.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'marriage' to refer to the ceremony (use 'wedding'). Confusing 'marriage' (state) with 'spouse' (person). Incorrect: 'I attended their marriage.' Correct: 'I attended their wedding.'
Practice
Quiz
Which phrase uses 'marriage' in a metaphorical sense?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Wedding' refers specifically to the ceremony or event where people get married. 'Marriage' refers to the long-term state, relationship, or institution itself.
In modern English usage and in the laws of many countries, 'marriage' is inclusive of same-sex unions. The definition has evolved.
Yes, metaphorically. It can describe a close or harmonious union of two different things, e.g., 'a marriage of form and function'.
Common collocations include: happy, successful, long, short, arranged, civil, same-sex, early, and failed marriage.
Collections
Part of a collection
Family Members
A1 · 44 words · Words for family, people and relationships at home.
Relationships
B1 · 49 words · Vocabulary for interpersonal and social connections.