J. T. Shawcross
Usage of Marriage
The definition of the word marriage—or, more accurately, the understanding of what the institution of marriage properly consists of—continues to be highly controversial. This is not an issue to be resolved by dictionaries. Ultimately, the controversy involves cultural traditions, religious beliefs, legal rulings, and ideas about fairness and basic human rights. The principal point of dispute has to do with marriage between two people of the same sex, often referred to as same-sex marriage or gay marriage. Same-sex marriages are now recognized by law in a growing number of countries and were legally validated throughout the U.S. by the Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges in 2015. In many other parts of the world, marriage continues to be allowed only between men and women. The definition of marriage shown here is intentionally broad enough to encompass the different types of marriage that are currently recognized in varying cultures, places, religions, and systems of law.
Examples of marriage in a Sentence
Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 6 Apr. 2025
The book, which takes place in both the 1950s and present day, tells the story of Hollywood star Evelyn Hugo and her seven marriages — including one big secret.
—Sharareh Drury, People.com, 4 Apr. 2025
Together, Didion and Dunne lived out one of the most collaborative literary marriages in American history.
—Joan Didion, New Yorker, 31 Mar. 2025
According to her calculations, in 2020, American husbands and wives shared the same broad level of education in 44.5 percent of heterosexual marriages, down from more than 47 percent in the early 2000s.
—Stephanie H. Murray, The Atlantic, 31 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for marriage
Cite this Entry
“Marriage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/marriage. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.
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marriage
noun
Legal Definition
marriage
noun
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