bride price

American  

Or bride-price

noun

1. (in some nonindustrial societies) the money or goods given to the family of a bride by the bridegroom or his family.

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bride price British  

noun

1. (in some societies) money, property, or services given by a bridegroom to the kinsmen of his bride in order to establish his rights over the woman

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Etymology

Origin of bride price

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

When David refuses, insisting on marrying his true love, the king demands a disgusting bride price.

From Salon • Mar. 29, 2026

If no bride price had been paid and the husband was a noble, he was required to pay his wife one mina of silver, the equivalent of about a year’s wage for an average worker.

From Textbooks • Apr. 19, 2023

There’s a longstanding tradition in China of men paying a bride price to their future wife’s family.

From New York Times • Mar. 26, 2023

She can’t be sure just how much money was offered as a bride price: She was crying too hard at the ceremony to see straight.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 14, 2020

The Prince of Dragonflies loved Jenny of Oldstones so much he cast aside a crown, and Westeros paid the bride price in corpses.

From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin