A marriage is the relationship between two people who are married.
In a good marriage, both partners work hard to solve any problems that arise.
When I was 35 my marriage broke up.
His son by his second marriage lives in Paris.
2. variable noun
A marriage is the act of marrying someone, or the ceremony at which this is done.
I opposed her marriage to Darryl. [+ to]
3. uncountable noun
Marriage is the state of being married.
Marriage might not suit you.
In twenty years of marriage he has only taken two proper vacations.
4. See also arranged marriage
More Synonyms of marriage
marriage in British English
(ˈmærɪdʒ)
noun
1.
the state or relationship of living together in a legal partnership
2.
a.
the legal union or contract made by two people to live together
b.
(as modifier)
marriage licence
marriage certificate
3.
the religious or legal ceremony formalizing this union; wedding
4.
a close or intimate union, relationship, etc
a marriage of ideas
5.
(in certain card games, such as bezique, pinochle) the king and queen of the same suit
▶ Related adjectives: , , conjugal, marital, nuptial
Word origin
C13: from Old French; see marry1, -age
marriage in American English
(ˈmærɪdʒ)
noun
1.
the state of being married; relation between spouses; married life; wedlock; matrimony
2.
the act of marrying; wedding
3.
the rite or form used in marrying
4.
any close or intimate union
5.
the king and queen of a suit, esp. as a meld in pinochle
Word origin
ME mariage < OFr < marier: see UNRESOLVED CROSS REF
COBUILD Collocations
marriage
abusive marriage
equal marriage
failed marriage
gay marriage
happy marriage
loveless marriage
marriage fails
marriage is dissolved
marriage was annulled
royal marriage
sham marriage
troubled marriage
unhappy marriage
Examples of 'marriage' in a sentence
marriage
His first two marriages ended in divorce.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
She survives him with two daughters from his first marriage who have avoided being in the public eye.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The celebration was held to honour her husband 's marriage to a second wife.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
There was a suspicion of outsiders, women were kept at home and marriages were arranged.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I knew that marriage was too good to be true.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
She is middle-aged, with a good marriage and a beautiful suburban home.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
They do a lousy job building marriages and building relationships.
Christianity Today (2000)
You both have to work hard at marriage.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
It would be an intriguing marriage of two popular icons.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
They were devoted to each other throughout their lives and the marriage produced three sons.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Two second marriages in three end in divorce.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Is marriage on the cards for you?
The Sun (2015)
She and his sons and daughter by the previous marriages all survive him.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It should be a good marriage.
The Sun (2010)
Will he have an arranged marriage?
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
I went to a civil ceremony of marriage recently.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Quotations
Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one fleshBible: Genesis
`Marriage': this I call the will that moves two to create the one which is more than those who created itFriedrich NietzscheThus Spake Zarathustra
Let me not to the marriage of true minds Admit impediments. Love is not love Which alters when it alteration finds, Or bends with the remover to removeWilliam ShakespeareSonnet 116
A happy marriage perhaps represents the ideal of human relationship - a setting in which each partner, while acknowledging the need of the other, feels free to be what he or she by nature isAnthony StorrThe Integrity of the Personality
Marriage is an act of will that signifies and involves a mutual gift, which unites the spouses and binds them to their eventual souls, with whom they make up a sole family - a domestic churchPope John Paul II
A happy marriage is a long conversation which always seems too shortAndré MauroisMemories
In other languages
marriage
British English: marriage /ˈmærɪdʒ/ NOUN
A marriage is the relationship between a husband and wife, or the state of being married.
A lot of women only marry in church for the traditional white wedding.
match
They make a surprisingly good match.
nuptials
wedlock
Her parents' divorce has given her a jaundiced view of wedlock.
wedding ceremony
matrimony
the bonds of matrimony
espousal (old-fashioned)
nuptial rites
2 (noun)
Definition
a close union or relationship
The merger is an audacious marriage between old and new.
Synonyms
union
the question of which countries should join the currency union
coupling
link
They hope to cement close links with Moscow.
association
the British Olympic Association
alliance
The two parties were still too much apart to form an alliance.
merger
the proposed merger of the two banks
confederation
amalgamation
The organization was formed by an amalgamation of two groups.
related words
related adjectivesconjugalconnubialhymenealmaritalnuptial
related maniagamomania
Quotations
Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh [Bible: Genesis]`Marriage': this I call the will that moves two to create the one which is more than those who created it [Friedrich Nietzsche – Thus Spake Zarathustra]Let me not to the marriage of true minds Admit impediments. Love is not love Which alters when it alteration finds, Or bends with the remover to remove [William Shakespeare – Sonnet 116]A happy marriage perhaps represents the ideal of human relationship - a setting in which each partner, while acknowledging the need of the other, feels free to be what he or she by nature is [Anthony Storr – The Integrity of the Personality]Marriage is an act of will that signifies and involves a mutual gift, which unites the spouses and binds them to their eventual souls, with whom they make up a sole family - a domestic church [Pope John Paul II]A happy marriage is a long conversation which always seems too short [André Maurois – Memories]
Additional synonyms
in the sense of alliance
Definition
a formal relationship between two or more countries or political parties to work together
The two parties were still too much apart to form an alliance.
Synonyms
union,
league,
association,
agreement,
marriage,
connection,
combination,
coalition,
treaty,
partnership,
federation,
pact,
compact,
confederation,
affinity,
affiliation,
confederacy,
concordat
in the sense of amalgamation
The organization was formed by an amalgamation of two groups.
Synonyms
combination,
union,
joining,
mixing,
alliance,
coalition,
merger,
mixture,
compound,
blend,
integration,
composite,
fusion,
mingling,
alloy,
amalgamating,
incorporation,
amalgam,
meld,
admixture,
commingling
in the sense of association
Definition
a group of people with a common interest
the British Olympic Association
Synonyms
group,
company,
club,
order,
union,
class,
society,
league,
band,
set,
troop,
pack,
camp,
collection,
gathering,
organization,
circle,
corporation,
alliance,
coalition,
partnership,
federation,
bunch (informal),
formation,
faction,
cluster,
syndicate,
congregation,
batch,
confederation,
cooperative,
fraternity (US, Canadian),
affiliation,
posse (slang),
clique,
confederacy,
assemblage,
social network
Synonyms of 'marriage'
marriage
Explore 'marriage' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of espousal
Definition
a marriage or engagement ceremony
Synonyms
engagement,
marriage,
wedding,
plighting,
espousing (archaic),
nuptials,
betrothal (old-fashioned),
affiancing,
betrothing (archaic)
in the sense of link
Definition
an emotional or logical relationship between people or things
They hope to cement close links with Moscow.
Synonyms
relationship,
association,
tie,
bond,
connection,
attachment,
liaison,
affinity,
affiliation
in the sense of match
Definition
a partnership between a man and a woman, as in marriage
They make a surprisingly good match.
Synonyms
marriage,
union,
couple,
pair,
pairing,
item (informal),
alliance,
combination,
partnership,
duet,
affiliation
in the sense of matrimony
Definition
the state of being married
the bonds of matrimony
Synonyms
marriage,
nuptials,
wedlock,
wedding ceremony,
marital rites
in the sense of merger
Definition
the act of merging, esp. the combination of two or more companies
the proposed merger of the two banks
Synonyms
union,
fusion,
consolidation,
amalgamation,
combination,
coalition,
incorporation
in the sense of wedlock
Definition
the state of being married
Her parents' divorce has given her a jaundiced view of wedlock.