wedlock

[ wed-lok ]

noun

1. the state of marriage; matrimony.

wedlock

/ ˈwɛdlɒk /

noun

1. the state of being married
2. born out of wedlock
   born out of wedlock born when one's parents are not legally married

Word History and Origins

Origin of wedlock¹

before 1100; Middle English wedlok, Old English wedlāc literally, a pledging, equivalent to wed pledge ( wed ) + -lāc verbal noun suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of wedlock¹

Old English wedlāc, from wedd pledge + -lāc, suffix denoting activity, perhaps from lāc game, battle (related to Gothic laiks dance, Old Norse leikr )

Idioms and Phrases

see out of wedlock .

Example Sentences

This recognized family rights when paternity is established, whether a child was born in or out of wedlock.

From The Daily Beast

The results are shocking: 96 percent of babies born to African American high school dropouts are born out of wedlock.

From The Daily Beast

Mother and baby homes were where young women who had conceived out of wedlock were sent to have their babies.

From The Daily Beast

Accepting the conception of a child out of love—and out of wedlock.

From The Daily Beast

And she was one pro-life person who repeatedly opened her home to teenage women who had become pregnant out of wedlock.

From The Daily Beast

It seems to form a bond of friendship which they regard as sacred as the vows of wedlock.

From Project Gutenberg

Honorine de Bauvan lost her child born out of wedlock, and she always mourned it.

From Project Gutenberg

Take you this man to husband, you who with such calmness sought to drive others into unwilling wedlock.

From Project Gutenberg

When the discovery was made, the boy was born—and born out of lawful wedlock.

From Project Gutenberg

Women, too, whether on the street or in the holy bond of wedlock, were prone to sell their flesh.

From Project Gutenberg

About This Word

What does wedlock mean?

Wedlock is the state of being married.

The term is rarely used by itself simply to refer to the state of marriage other than in very formal religious contexts.

Instead, wedlock is most commonly used in criticism of the actions of couples who are not married, most especially in the phrase born out of wedlock—meaning born when one’s parents are not legally married.

This phrase and the beliefs and criticisms that go with it are often themselves criticized for stigmatizing children and their parents when those parents are not married or were not married at the time of the birth.

Other instances of the use of the word wedlock also involve criticism of actions taken by partners who are not married, such as living together or engaging in sexual activity out of wedlock.

Where does wedlock come from?

The first records of the word wedlock come from before the 1100s. The suffix -lock is not the same lock that you open with a key or that’s found in words like gridlock or headlock. Instead the word comes from the Old English wedlāc, meaning “a pledging.” This word is based on the Old English wed, which means “pledge” and is, unsurprisingly, related to the word wedding.

Due to religious and societal beliefs that have existed throughout much of history, having children without being married has often been considered immoral—or at least a situation to be avoided. Such beliefs often lead people to criticize those who do so, resulting in the use of stigmatizing terms like born out of wedlock or illegitimate to label such children.

Similar criticisms have traditionally been issued against partners who live together outside of wedlock (sometimes called cohabiting, cohabitating, or even living in sin, all of which have negative connotations) or who engage in sexual activity outside of wedlock. In both of these cases, the phrase outside of marriage is probably more commonly used than outside of wedlock—but it carries the same critical tone.

Did you know ... ?

What are some synonyms for wedlock?

• matrimony

What are some words that share a root or word element with wedlock? 

 

• wed
• wedding

What are some words that often get used in discussing wedlock?

• born
• birth
• pregnant
• child
• children
• marriage
• wedding
• couple
• spouse
• wife
• husband

How is wedlock used in real life?

Wedlock can be used in a neutral or positive way to refer to the state of being married, but it’s most commonly used in critical comments that refer to not being married.

Does God approve that I am pregnant out of wedlock ? No. Is he still working on me? Yes. Does that mean I’m not allowed to tell y’all how good he is? Absolutely not. He without sin cast the first stone.

— Butterflies Part 2 Out Now (@queennaija) December 10, 2018

15 years ago today I met you, 7 and a half years of wedlock, 3 kids later here we stand still glowing ❤️❤️❤️❤️ @Jennapollard26 . Forever to go #nomorekidsand more happiness love you J. #blessedandthankful❤️ . https://t.co/gizKIw4NCe

— Kieron Pollard (@KieronPollard55) May 19, 2020

Could somebody tell me why we still say that somebody “got pregnant out of wedlock”? Why oh why is it called wedlock only if you got pregnant out of it?

— Beth Moore (@BethMooreLPM) November 5, 2019