# premarital

/pɹiˈmɛɹətəɫ/ (US) · /pɹɪmˈæɹɪtəl/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/premarital
Updated: 2026-05-28

## Definition

happening or existing before a marriage. You use this to describe things like advice, tests, or ceremonies that happen before the wedding day.

For teachers: occurring or existing before marriage. Typically used to describe legal, medical, or social arrangements established prior to the wedding ceremony.

## Examples

- They had a premarital counseling session last week.
- The couple decided to have a premarital agreement to protect their individual assets before the wedding.
- Sociologists often study premarital expectations to understand how modern couples navigate the transition from dating to a legally binding union.

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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.