Word
marriage
Phoneticsmar·riage, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈmɛɹɪdʒ/
UK/mˈæɹɪdʒ/
Definitions
01the state of being married
A2 · Elementary Uncountable noun
n. the legal, social, or religious relationship between people who have promised to live together as partners.
n. the legal, social, or religious status of being wed; a formal union between partners that establishes rights and obligations.
“They have a very strong marriage because they always talk about their problems.”
“Sociologists argue that the institution of marriage has evolved significantly over the last century to reflect changing gender roles and legal frameworks.”
Pitfall
They have a happy marriage with twenty years.
They have been in a happy marriage for twenty years.
Use 'for' to describe the duration of a marriage, or 'of' to describe the length (e.g., 'a marriage of twenty years').
Antonyms
02a wedding ceremony
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun
n. the event or ceremony where two people get married.
n. the formal ceremony or ritual marking the beginning of a marital union.
“The whole family gathered at the church for the marriage of the youngest daughter.”
“The marriage was celebrated in a private ceremony, attended only by immediate family and a few close associates of the couple.”
Synonyms
03a combination of things
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a successful or pleasing combination of two different things.
n. a figurative union or combination of two or more distinct elements, often resulting in a harmonious or effective whole.
“The restaurant's success is a perfect marriage of great food and low prices.”
“The architect's latest project represents a seamless marriage of traditional craftsmanship and cutting-edge sustainable technology.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
04card games
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Technical
n. a pair consisting of a king and a queen of the same suit in certain card games.
n. a combination of a king and a queen of the same suit held in a single hand, particularly in games like pinochle or certain variants of poker.
“He won extra points because he held a marriage of hearts in his hand.”
“In pinochle, declaring a marriage in the trump suit yields a higher point value than a marriage in a non-trump suit.”
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “marriage” in context.
Verb
01. end a marriage
“It is always a difficult decision to end a marriage after so many years.”
verb + noun
02. propose marriage
“He bought a beautiful ring and decided to propose marriage on their anniversary.”
verb + noun
03. save the marriage
“The couple went to counseling to try and save their marriage.”
verb + noun
Adjective
04. arranged marriage
“In some cultures, an arranged marriage is still a very common tradition.”
adj + noun
05. civil marriage
“They decided to have a simple civil marriage at the city hall.”
adj + noun
06. happy marriage
“My grandparents have had a very long and happy marriage.”
adj + noun
Noun
07. marriage certificate
“You need to show your marriage certificate to update your legal records.”
noun + noun
08. marriage proposal
“She was completely surprised by his romantic marriage proposal at the beach.”
noun + noun
Preposition
09. in a marriage
“Communication and trust are the most important things in a marriage.”
prep + noun
Etymology
From Middle English mariage, from Old French mariage, from marier (“to marry”), from Latin marītō (“marry”, verb, literally “give in marriage”), from marītus (“lover”, “nuptial”), from mas (“male, masculine, of the male sex”). Equivalent to marry + -age. Doublet of maritage. Displaced native Old English sinsċipe.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Related words
Idioms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- B1 · IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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