Definitions for marriage
ˈmær ɪdʒmar·riage

Princeton's WordNet(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. marriage, matrimony, union, spousal relationship, wedlocknoun

   the state of being a married couple voluntarily joined for life (or until divorce)

   "a long and happy marriage"; "God bless this union"

2. marriage, married couple, man and wifenoun

   two people who are married to each other

   "his second marriage was happier than the first"; "a married couple without love"

3. marriage, wedding, marriage ceremonynoun

   the act of marrying; the nuptial ceremony

   "their marriage was conducted in the chapel"

4. marriagenoun

   a close and intimate union

   "the marriage of music and dance"; "a marriage of ideas"

Wiktionary(2.67 / 3 votes)Rate this definition:

1. marriagenoun

   The state of being married.

   You should enter marriage for love.

2. marriagenoun

   The union of two (or sometimes more) people, usually to the exclusion of all others.

3. marriagenoun

   A wedding; a ceremony in which people wed.

   You are cordially invited to the marriage of James Smith and Jane Doe.

4. marriagenoun

   A close union.

5. marriagenoun

   A joining of two parts.

6. marriagenoun

   A king and a queen, when held as a hand in Texas hold 'em and some other card games.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Marriage

   is often used in composition.

   Neither her worthiness, which in truth was great, nor his own suffering for her, which is wont to endear affection, could fetter his fickleness; but, before the marriage-day appointed, he had taken to wife Baccha, of whom she complained. Philip Sidney, b. ii.

   I by the honour of my marriage-bed,
   After young Arthur, claim this land for mine. William Shakespeare.

   Thou shalt come into the marriage chamber. Tob. vi. 16.

   There on his arms and once lov’d portrait lay,
   Thither our fatal marriage-bed convey. John Denham.

   To these whom death again did wed,
   This grave’s the second marriage-bed:
   For though the hand of fate could force
   ’Twixt soul and body a divorce,
   It could not sever man and wife,
   Because they both liv’d but one life. Richard Crashaw.

   Give me, to live and die,
   A spotless maid, without the marriage-tie. Dryden.

   In a late draught of marriage-articles, a lady stipulated with her husband, that she shall be at liberty to patch on which side she pleases. Joseph Addison, Spect. №. 81.

   Virgin awake! the marriage-hour is nigh. Alexander Pope.

2. Marriagenoun

   The act of uniting a man and woman for life.

   Etymology: mariage, French; maritagium, low Latin, from maritus.

   The marriage with his brother’s wife
   Has crept too near his conscience. William Shakespeare, Henry VIII.

   If that thy bent of love be honourable,
   Thy purpose marriage, send me word to-morrow. William Shakespeare.

   The French king would have the disposing of the marriage of Bretagne, with an exception, that he should not marry her himself. Francis Bacon.

   Some married persons, even in their marriage, do better please God than some virgins in their state of virginity: they, by giving great example of conjugal affection, by preserving their faith unbroken, and by educating children in the fear of God, please God in a higher degree than those virgins whose piety is not answerable to their opportunities. Taylor.

   I propose that Palamon shall be
   In marriage join’d with beauteous Emily. Dryden.

Webster Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Marriageverb

   the act of marrying, or the state of being married; legal union of a man and a woman for life, as husband and wife; wedlock; matrimony

2. Marriageverb

   the marriage vow or contract

3. Marriageverb

   a feast made on the occasion of a marriage

4. Marriageverb

   any intimate or close union

Freebase(1.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Marriage

   Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people called spouses that establishes rights and obligations between the spouses, between the spouses and their children, and between the spouses and their in-laws. The definition of marriage varies according to different cultures, but it is principally an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged. When defined broadly, marriage is considered a cultural universal. In many cultures, marriage is formalized via a wedding ceremony. In terms of legal recognition, most sovereign states and other jurisdictions limit marriage to opposite-sex couples or two persons of opposite gender in the gender binary, and a diminishing number of these permit polygyny, child marriages, and forced marriages. In modern times, a growing number of countries and other jurisdictions have lifted bans on and have established legal recognition for same-sex marriage, interracial marriage, and interfaith marriage. In some cultures, marriage is recommended or compulsory before pursuing any sexual activity. People marry for many reasons, including: legal, social, libidinal, emotional, financial, spiritual, and religious. Marriages can be performed in a secular civil ceremony or in a religious setting. The act of marriage usually creates normative or legal obligations between the individuals involved. Some cultures allow the dissolution of marriage through divorce or annulment. Polygamous marriages may also occur in spite of national laws.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Marriage

   mar′ij, n. the ceremony by which a man and woman become husband and wife: the union of a man and woman as husband and wife.—adj. Marr′iageable, suitable, or at a proper age, for marriage.—ns. Marr′iageableness; Marr′iage-con′tract, an agreement to be married: an agreement respecting property by persons about to marry.—n.pl. Marr′iage-fā′vours, knots or decorations worn at a marriage.—n. Marr′iage-sett′lement, an arrangement of property, &c., before marriage, by which something is secured to the wife or her children, in case of her husband's death. [O. Fr. mariage. See Marry.]

The Roycroft Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. marriage

   1. A legal or religious ceremony by which two persons of the opposite sex solemnly agree to harass and spy on each other for ninety-nine years, or until death do them join. 2. A way-station, not the end of the journey. 3. The aspiration of two vowels to be a diphthong. 4. Love's demitasse.

U.S. National Library of Medicine(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Marriage

   The social institution involving legal and/or religious sanction whereby men and women are joined together for the purpose of founding a family unit.

Editors Contribution(4.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. marriage

   A relationship created with mutual honesty, respect, trust, truthful communication, loyalty and unconditional love with the feeling, knowing and understanding a couple are united in a life partnership to share, grow and evolve together with mutual aspirations, goals and a united purpose, confirmed on an official unity governmental register.

   Marriage is a relationship that people choose to share, grow and evolve together with mutual aspirations, goals and a united purpose.

   
   

   Submitted by MaryC on September 17, 2016  

2. ---

   marriage

   A type of union and ceremony cocreated by a couple at a specific location, signed on an official unity governmental register, following with a party of celebration.

   Marriage is a life commitment for two people who love each other to the depth of their souls.

   
   

   Submitted by MaryC on December 27, 2019  

Matched Categories

1. • Family
   • Law
   • Marital Status
   • Union

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'marriage' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #1278

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'marriage' in Written Corpus Frequency: #2719

3. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'marriage' in Nouns Frequency: #548

How to pronounce marriage?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say marriage in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of marriage in Chaldean Numerology is: 1

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of marriage in Pythagorean Numerology is: 9

Examples of marriage in a Sentence

1. Todd Godfrey:

   For us, building your tree usually starts with census records and birth and marriage and death, and those are the core of doing your family history, but there are these categories that tell the story, that help you understand the person better. We really think that this is another category that sheds light on that story.

2. Gilbert Keith Chesterton:

   Marriage is an adventure, like going to war.

3. Louis K. Anspacher:

   Marriage is that relation between man and woman in which the independence is equal, the dependence mutual, and the obligation reciprocal.

4. Desi Arnaz:

   Marriage is OK, but adultery is more fun, just ask Lucy.

5. Hakeem Odumosu:

   As police officers, we are to enforce the laws, so on the same-sex marriage now, we stand by the position of the law.

Popularity rank by frequency of use