arranged marriage

American

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

noun

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.

Etymology

Origin of arranged marriage

First recorded in 1835–40

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.

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

Harshita and Mr Lamba entered into an arranged marriage, with a legal wedding held in August 2023.

From BBC • Dec. 12, 2024

But in 2012, I had an arranged marriage.

From BBC • Jul. 13, 2024

It’s a comedy about a South Asian teen who rebels against her sister’s arranged marriage with some of the baddest martial arts moves ever performed in a sari.

From Los Angeles Times • May 30, 2024

"Yes," my mom explained to me over the years, "technically, we had an arranged marriage, but I was never forced to marry your dad. I had a choice."

From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi

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