arranged marriage

American  

[uh-reynjd mar-ij] / əˈreɪndʒd ˈmær ɪdʒ /

noun

1. a marriage in which the bride and groom were chosen to marry each other by their parents or other relatives.

   Although arranged marriage is the cultural practice in India, it is no longer the only avenue available to young men and women.

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Etymology

Origin of arranged marriage

First recorded in 1835–40

Example Sentences

It was an awkward arranged marriage for Groening — and a “baptism by fire” for Emanuel and his cohort.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 19, 2025

He told us it was something of an arranged marriage, as his mother kept inviting Stella for dinner until eventually the penny dropped that he should take her out.

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2025

Ms Dabas explained that her sister and Mr Lamba had entered into an arranged marriage, with a legal wedding held in August 2023.

From BBC • Nov. 18, 2024

Some go further and seek to forbid all forms of dating, embracing a "courtship" model almost indistinguishable from arranged marriage.

From Salon • Mar. 8, 2024

Gary was in the popular group but kind of shy and Zaheera was in the popular group but kind of shy, so his friends and her friends set them up together, like an arranged marriage.

From "Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood" by Trevor Noah