common-law marriage

noun

1. a marriage without a civil or ecclesiastical ceremony, generally resulting from an agreement to marry followed by the couple's living together.

common-law marriage

1. A legal marriage brought about by the cohabitation of a man and a woman, or by their agreement to consider themselves married, rather than by a wedding. ( See common law .)

Word History and Origins

Origin of common-law marriage¹

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

Less canonically, “natural marriage” is also at times used as a rough synonym for “common-law marriage.”

From The Daily Beast

Common-law marriage is a response to invasion of privacy by the government.

From The Daily Beast

Common-law marriage is an act of protest against a corrupt system of religious marriage and divorce in Israel.

From The Daily Beast

I made her sign a common-law marriage with me, had it witnessed, and told her if she squealed I'd produce it and claim her.

From Project Gutenberg

The common people seldom marry except, as we would term it, by the common-law marriage.

From Project Gutenberg

"That idea of a common-law marriage was clever," Groll said musing.

From Project Gutenberg

This is exactly our common-law marriage as it exists in various States today.

From Project Gutenberg

Common law marriage is valid and the legal age for a girl is fourteen years.

From Project Gutenberg