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civil marriage

American

noun

a marriage performed by a government official, as distinguished from a member of the clergy.

civil marriage British

noun

law a marriage performed by some official other than a clergyman

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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

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

Uner the proposals, same-sex couples could have a service in which there would be "prayers of dedication, thanksgiving or for God's blessing on the couple" in church after a civil marriage.

From Reuters • Jan. 18, 2023

Celebration.—The law of Bulgaria does not permit a civil marriage.

From Marriage and Divorce Laws of the World by Ringrose, Hyacinthe

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023