silver wedding: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
MediumFormal/informal (context-dependent; common in both celebratory and media contexts)
Quick answer
What does “silver wedding” mean?
The 25th anniversary of a marriage.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The 25th anniversary of a marriage.
The occasion or celebration marking 25 years of marriage, often associated with gifts of silver.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is essentially identical. 'Silver anniversary' is a common, slightly less formal synonym in both varieties. 'Silver wedding' is slightly more common in UK printed sources, but both terms are well understood.
Connotations
Conveys celebration, longevity, tradition, and milestone. No significant difference in connotation between varieties.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in UK English corpora, but the phrase is firmly established in both.
Grammar
How to Use “silver wedding” in a Sentence
[couple] celebrate/celebrated their silver wedding (with [event/people])[Their/Our] silver wedding is/was in [month/year]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “silver wedding” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- They will silver-wed next year. (extremely rare/non-standard)
American English
- They are silver-wedding this fall. (extremely rare/non-standard)
adjective
British English
- They sent out silver-wedding invitations.
- It was a lovely silver-wedding celebration.
American English
- They planned a silver-anniversary trip.
- We bought a silver-wedding gift.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in the greeting card, gift, and hospitality industries (e.g., 'We offer packages for silver wedding celebrations').
Academic
Rare, except in sociological or demographic studies tracking family milestones.
Everyday
Common in social conversation, invitations, and family contexts.
Technical
Not applicable.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “silver wedding”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “silver wedding”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “silver wedding”
- Using 'silver marriage' (less common). Confusing it with 'silver jubilee' (which is for 25 years of a reign).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are largely synonymous. 'Silver wedding' is slightly more traditional and specifically marital, while 'silver anniversary' can be used for other 25-year milestones (e.g., of a business).
The traditional gift is an item made of silver, such as cutlery, jewellery, or picture frames.
The 30th is pearl, but the next major milestone is the 50th, which is the golden wedding or golden anniversary.
No, it is a fixed compound noun. You 'celebrate' or 'have' a silver wedding; you do not 'silver wedding'.
The 25th anniversary of a marriage.
Silver wedding is usually formal/informal (context-dependent; common in both celebratory and media contexts) in register.
Silver wedding: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsɪl.və ˈwed.ɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsɪl.vɚ ˈwed.ɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Not typically idiomatic; it is a fixed compound]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the traditional 25-year gift: SILVER. The SILVER WEDDING is when you might receive a silver gift.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A PRECIOUS METAL (years of marriage are metaphorically 'minted' into increasing value: silver, gold, diamond).
Practice
Quiz
What does 'silver wedding' specifically commemorate?