marriage encounter: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, religious, counseling
Quick answer
What does “marriage encounter” mean?
A structured weekend program designed to help married couples improve communication and deepen their relationship.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A structured weekend program designed to help married couples improve communication and deepen their relationship.
A specific movement or approach within marriage counseling that originated in the Catholic Church but has been adopted more broadly, involving intensive workshops where couples share experiences and learn relationship skills.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More commonly referenced in American religious and counseling contexts; in the UK, it may be less familiar outside specific religious communities.
Connotations
In both varieties, carries connotations of structured intervention, often with spiritual or therapeutic aims.
Frequency
Higher frequency in American English due to the movement's historical roots and wider dissemination in the US.
Grammar
How to Use “marriage encounter” in a Sentence
participate in a marriage encountergo on a marriage encountersign up for marriage encounterVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “marriage encounter” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- They decided to marriage-encounter last spring.
- We are marriage-encountering next month.
American English
- They marriage-encountered last fall.
- We plan to marriage-encounter soon.
adverb
British English
- They communicated more openly, almost marriage-encounteringly.
- He spoke marriage-encounteringly about their issues.
American English
- They interacted marriage-encounteringly after the workshop.
- She advised them marriage-encounteringly.
adjective
British English
- The marriage-encounter weekend was transformative.
- They offer marriage-encounter resources.
American English
- The marriage-encounter retreat helped them reconnect.
- She leads marriage-encounter workshops.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used; not applicable in standard business contexts.
Academic
Used in sociology, psychology, or religious studies discussing marriage interventions.
Everyday
Used when discussing relationship improvement programs, especially among religious communities.
Technical
Used in counselling, therapy, and pastoral care literature to denote a specific structured intervention.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “marriage encounter”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “marriage encounter”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “marriage encounter”
- Using 'marriage encounter' to mean any casual meeting between spouses (it specifically denotes a formal program).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
While it originated in the Catholic Church and retains strong religious associations, secular versions exist and are used in broader counselling contexts.
It usually involves an intensive weekend retreat, often from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon.
Typically no; it is designed specifically for married couples, though some programs may offer similar workshops for engaged or cohabiting couples under different names.
To improve communication, deepen emotional and spiritual intimacy, and provide tools for ongoing relationship maintenance.
A structured weekend program designed to help married couples improve communication and deepen their relationship.
Marriage encounter is usually formal, religious, counseling in register.
Marriage encounter: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmærɪdʒ ɪnˈkaʊntə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmærɪdʒ ɪnˈkaʊntər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A marriage encounter can be a turning point for struggling couples.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'encounter' as a meeting—a 'marriage encounter' is where a married couple meets intentionally to work on their relationship.
Conceptual Metaphor
MARRIAGE IS A JOURNEY (an encounter is a planned stop to refuel and check the map).
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'marriage encounter' primarily?