marriage
marriage — noun
1. The legally recognized bond between two people as a couple, together with the ri
The legally recognized bond between two people as a couple, together with the rights and duties this creates — or the ceremony that establishes this bond.
Min and Jabari celebrated their marriage with a small ceremony at the city hall.
countable use: a specific ceremony
After forty years of marriage, Christopher's grandparents still held hands at dinner.
uncountable: length of the relationship
The new law allowed same‑sex couples to enter into a legal marriage.
Amihan's marriage to Noor was followed by a village feast that lasted two days.
Through Renata's marriage to Arjun, both families began sharing Sunday dinners together.
- wedlock
formal or legal term; rarely used in everyday speech ('born out of wedlock')
- matrimony
formal and often religious in tone; less common in casual conversation
- union
broader term; can also refer to non‑romantic alliances
- nuptials
refers specifically to the wedding ceremony, not the ongoing relationship
- divorce
the legal ending of a marriage
- separation
living apart while still legally married
文法句型
someone's marriage to someone
marriage between [two people]
marriage of [duration]
用法筆記
Both uncountable sense (the ongoing relationship, e.g. 'years of marriage') and countable sense (the ceremony, e.g. 'a small marriage') fall under this entry; distinguish by the use of articles and quantifiers.
常見錯誤
2. A long‑term relationship in which two people live together as a couple without b
A long‑term relationship in which two people live together as a couple without being legally married, but which they or their community consider a marriage.
Andrés and Nila called their union a marriage although it was never officially registered.
an unregistered relationship treated as a marriage
Theirs was a quiet marriage recognized by friends but not by any official body.
In Laʼela village, Hui's de facto marriage with Emre was treated with the same respect as any legal union.
For Lukas and Esme, their marriage was about commitment, not a legal document.
- common‑law marriage
a legally specific term that applies only in jurisdictions that recognize such unions; not equivalent to a purely social arrangement
- de facto relationship
neutral legal term for a cohabiting couple; overlaps with this sense but does not necessarily imply that the couple uses the word 'marriage'
文法句型
someone's marriage to someone
marriage between [two people]
用法筆記
This sense describes a relationship that people call a 'marriage' even though it has no legal status. Distinguish from sense 1 (LEGAL UNION), where legal recognition is central.
3. A marriage agreed to for practical reasons — such as gaining citizenship, financ
A marriage agreed to for practical reasons — such as gaining citizenship, financial security, or social status — rather than for romantic love.
Mira entered a marriage of convenience in order to remain in the country.
marriage of convenience fixed phrase
Shanti and Hoa agreed to a marriage of convenience to pool their financial resources.
The marriage of convenience between the two families was arranged purely for business reasons.
Élise married Aaron for a work visa, but their marriage of convenience gradually turned into real love.
- arranged marriage
overlaps but differs: arranged marriages may still aim for love or compatibility; marriages of convenience are explicitly for practical gain
- sham marriage
strongly negative; implies deception or illegality, especially for immigration fraud
- love match
a marriage based on romantic feelings rather than practical benefit
文法句型
a marriage of convenience
marriage of convenience + infinitive
用法筆記
Nearly always appears in the fixed phrase 'a marriage of convenience.' Avoid confusing with 'arranged marriage,' where families choose partners but love may still be the goal — in a marriage of convenience, practical advantage is the primary motive.
常見錯誤
4. A close blend of two different elements — such as ideas, styles, flavours, or ma
A close blend of two different elements — such as ideas, styles, flavours, or materials — that work together well.
The dish was a marriage of Eastern spices and Western cooking methods.
marriage of [food element A] and [food element B]
The building's design is a marriage of old stonework and modern glass.
The dance troupe created a marriage of ballet and hip‑hop.
Her latest novel is a marriage of historical fact and imaginative storytelling.
- division
the opposite of bringing elements together
- separation
keeping elements apart rather than combining them
文法句型
a marriage of [thing A] and [thing B]
用法筆記
This figurative sense is always singular and takes the fixed pattern 'a marriage of X and Y.' Unlike senses 1–3, it does not involve people or romantic relationships.