shotgun wedding: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1-C2informal, colloquial, figurative, sometimes derogatory
Quick answer
What does “shotgun wedding” mean?
A wedding that is arranged in haste, especially because the bride is pregnant.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A wedding that is arranged in haste, especially because the bride is pregnant.
Any arrangement, agreement, or alliance that is forced or hastily arranged due to urgent external pressures, often seen in business or politics.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Term is widely understood and used in both varieties. The phrase itself originates from American English, specifically the stereotype of a bride's father forcing a groom to marry at gunpoint.
Connotations
In both, it carries connotations of pressure, haste, and lack of romantic intent. In the UK, the figurative use in business/politics is slightly more prevalent in media.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English due to cultural resonance of its origin, but common in British media and informal speech.
Grammar
How to Use “shotgun wedding” in a Sentence
The merger was a [shotgun wedding] between two rival firms.They had a [shotgun wedding] last month.The [shotgun wedding] of technology and tradition proved difficult.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “shotgun wedding” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- They got shotgun-wedded last weekend.
- I'm not about to be shotgun-wed into this deal.
American English
- They had to shotgun-wed before the baby came.
- The companies were practically shotgun-wedded by the market crash.
adjective
British English
- It was a very shotgun-wedding affair.
- They have a shotgun-wedding partnership.
American English
- The merger had a shotgun-wedding feel to it.
- It was a classic shotgun-wedding scenario.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used to describe mergers, partnerships, or collaborations formed under duress (e.g., financial pressure, competitor threat) rather than strategic choice. 'The joint venture was a shotgun wedding orchestrated by the regulators.'
Academic
Rare in formal academic writing. May appear in sociology, history, or cultural studies papers discussing family structures, social norms, or metaphor theory.
Everyday
Used informally to describe any rushed, pressured union, from actual weddings to two friends reluctantly moving in together. 'Their partnership was a total shotgun wedding after they lost their other flatmates.'
Technical
Not used in technical fields like engineering or medicine.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “shotgun wedding”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “shotgun wedding”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “shotgun wedding”
- Using it to describe any quick wedding (must imply external pressure/necessity, not just speed).
- Using in formal contexts where 'forced merger' or 'expedient alliance' would be more appropriate.
- Misspelling as 'shotgun marriage' (less common but acceptable).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be, depending on context. When used literally about a real wedding, it may be seen as derogatory or judgmental. Its figurative use in business/politics is generally acceptable in informal or journalistic contexts.
Yes, informally. Forms like 'to shotgun-wed' or 'get shotgun-wedded' are creative, non-standard extensions of the noun, understood in context.
A 'shotgun wedding' emphasises haste and direct external pressure (often with a negative connotation). A 'marriage of convenience' is a calmer, more calculated arrangement for mutual benefit (e.g., for residency, money) without the same element of sudden coercion.
The literal scenario is less common socially, which makes the original metaphor slightly historical. However, the figurative meaning is very much alive and frequently used in media to describe forced alliances in business, technology, and politics.
A wedding that is arranged in haste, especially because the bride is pregnant.
Shotgun wedding is usually informal, colloquial, figurative, sometimes derogatory in register.
Shotgun wedding: in British English it is pronounced /ˈʃɒtˌɡʌn ˈwɛdɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈʃɑːtˌɡʌn ˈwɛdɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Marry in haste, repent at leisure (related concept)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a classic movie scene: an angry father with a SHOTGUN forces a nervous groom to the altar for a sudden WEDDING. Pressure + haste = shotgun wedding.
Conceptual Metaphor
A SOCIAL/MORAL OBLIGATION IS PHYSICAL COERCION (via a weapon). / A HASTY AGREEMENT IS A FORCED MARRIAGE.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'shotgun wedding' LEAST appropriate?