civil marriage
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of civil marriage
First recorded in 1890–95
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Under South African law, a civil marriage must either be dissolved or converted to a traditional union before a man can take any more wives.
From BBC • Jan. 20, 2025
Ronan, a four-time Oscar-nominated actor, married Jack Lowden, her “Mary Queen of Scots” co-star, in Scotland last weekend, the Irish Independent reported, citing Scottish civil marriage records.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 29, 2024
“In terms of civil marriage, I think the countries that are in the European Union will eventually all do it,” Demacopoulos said.
From Seattle Times • Feb. 15, 2024
Although today most Americans are likely to encounter a justice of the peace in the context of civil marriage ceremonies, this office was once the most important agent of law enforcement.
From Slate • Dec. 5, 2023
He proclaimed absolute religious freedom, introduced civil marriage, abolished cloisters, pronounced church possessions national property and exiled the obstinate bishops.
From Church History, Vol. 3 of 3 by Kurtz, J. H.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
