marriage bureau: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Not exactly. While both aim to connect people, a marriage bureau traditionally has a more explicit goal of facilitating marriage, often involves more personalized matchmaking, and may operate in-person or through more formal processes, whereas dating websites/apps have a broader focus on relationships of all kinds.

It depends on the country and the specific bureau. Some 'marriage bureaus' are purely introduction services. In other contexts, especially in government administration, the 'marriage bureau' (or registry office) is the very place where the legal ceremony is performed and the marriage is registered.

It can sound somewhat formal or old-fashioned, especially in Western countries. Terms like 'matrimonial agency', 'matchmaking service', or simply 'the registry office' (for legal matters) are more common in contemporary usage, though 'marriage bureau' is still used in specific institutional or cultural contexts.

In British English, a 'registry office' is specifically the government office for registering births, deaths, and civil marriages. A 'marriage bureau' is a broader term that can refer to a private matchmaking business or, in some regions, the same official office. The 'bureau' may facilitate the finding of a partner, while the 'registry office' handles the legal formalities of the marriage itself.

An agency or office that facilitates the arrangement of marriages, often through matchmaking services, registration, or providing legal information about marriage.

Marriage bureau is usually formal, institutional, historical in register.

Marriage bureau: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmær.ɪdʒ ˌbjʊə.rəʊ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmer.ɪdʒ ˌbjʊr.oʊ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.