A civil partnership is a legal relationship between two people that is similar to marriage.
The two men entered into a civil partnership last year.
civil partnership in British English
noun
a legal union or contract, similar to a marriage, between two people of the same sex
Examples of 'civil partnership' in a sentence
civil partnership
More female civil partnerships were dissolved last year than male.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
He is married through a civil partnership and the relationship has lasted ten years.
The Sun (2010)
One benefit of marriage and civil partnership is to exempt couples from inheritance tax when a partner dies.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
She says her party will consider making three-way civil partnerships legal.
The Sun (2015)
Pals showed their support after seeing pictures of the civil partnership ceremony last December.
The Sun (2014)
The defence is only available to women and not to men or those in civil partnerships or long-term relationships.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Civil partnerships are not marriage.
The Sun (2006)
Under the present law, civil marriages and civil partnerships cannot take place in any building with arecent or continuing religious connection.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The Church of England has lobbied the government to maintain the distinction between marriage and civil partnership.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
In theory, there's not much legal difference between a civil partnership and a marriage.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Anyone in a lasting relationship could perhaps consider marriage or a civil partnership: no tax on what is passed to a surviving spouse or civil partner.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
I am having a civil partnership next year and wanted to change the official documents to be in the name of Spike.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Marriage or civil partnership?
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The Presbyterian Church is expected to bow to the legal situation of civil partnerships and give its blessing to civil partnership ceremonies.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
It was significant that the House of Lords was able to reduce the issue of civil partnerships to specific legal questions of the range of freedom.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
We won't go through the whole thing again if the law changes, though we would probably apply to change the civil partnership to marriage.