a marriage performed by some official other than a member of the clergy
civil marriage in American English
a marriage performed by a justice of the peace, judge, or similar official, not by a clergyman
Examples of 'civil marriage' in a sentence
civil marriage
Under the present law, civil marriages and civil partnerships cannot take place in any building with a recent or continuing religious connection.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
A task force has urged ministers to allow civil marriages and civil partnership ceremonies to take place in rooms with stained glass or pictures bearing religious images.