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definitions

betrothal

or be·troth·ment

[bih-troh-th uh l, -traw-thuh l]
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR betrothal ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the act or state of being betrothed; engagement.

RELATED WORDS

engagement, vow, promise, espousal, plight, troth

Origin of betrothal

First recorded in 1835–45; betroth + -al2
Related formspre·be·troth·al, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for betrothal

Contemporary Examples of betrothal

  • Princess Beatrice is widely thought to be on the point of announcing her betrothal to her boyfriend of six years, Dave Clark.

    The Daily Beast logo

Historical Examples of betrothal

  • Nelly, next week it will be a year since our first betrothal; do you remember?

  • The betrothal was completed before Frederick stood so near to the throne.

    The Avenger

    E. Phillips Oppenheim

  • Sometimes the illusion disappears while there is yet time to break off the betrothal.

  • Also he intended to announce the betrothal of the young couple.

    A Nest of Spies

    Pierre Souvestre

  • The betrothal of the parties shall be made by the next of kin, or if there are none, by the guardians.

    Laws

    Plato

British Dictionary definitions for betrothal

betrothal

noun

engagement to be married
a mutual promise to marry
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
Word Origin and History for betrothal
n.

1844, from betroth + -al (2). Earlier in same sense were betrothment (1580s), betrothing (14c.).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper