# marital

/ˈmɛɹətəɫ/ (US) · /mˈæɹɪtəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/marital
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 2. relating to a husband

adjective · CEFR C2 · Archaic

an old-fashioned way to describe things belonging or relating to a husband.

For teachers: pertaining specifically to a husband rather than both spouses. This sense is largely obsolete in modern general-service English.

- In the old story, the king exercised his marital authority over the palace.
- The historical text discusses the evolution of marital rights and the traditional legal dominance of the husband in the nineteenth century.

Usage: Found almost exclusively in historical literature or legal history texts.

Teaching tip: Modern speakers use 'marital' to refer to the couple as a unit; using it to mean 'husband-only' will likely be misunderstood.

## Examples

- They are happy in their marital life.
- The couple sought marital counseling to help improve their communication and resolve long-standing arguments.
- In many jurisdictions, assets acquired during the union are considered marital property and are subject to equitable distribution upon divorce.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.