civil union

American  

noun

1. a relationship between a couple that is legally recognized by a governmental authority and has many of the rights and responsibilities of marriage.

   civil unions for same-sex couples.

2. civil marriage.

---

Etymology

Origin of civil union

First frecorded in 1835–40

Example Sentences

Two of the judges, including Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, favoured civil union and granting the same "benefits that married people enjoy" to same-sex couples.

From BBC • Oct. 17, 2023

That decree, signed by Francis, came even after he had been quoted in a documentary as advocating for civil union laws.

From Washington Post • Jan. 25, 2023

Engineer Javier Silva and dentist Jaime Nazar have been together for seven years and had previously legalized their status as a couple under a civil union agreement.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 10, 2022

He has also said that while the Church cannot accept same-sex marriage it can support civil union laws aimed at giving gay partners joint rights in areas of pensions and health care and inheritance issues.

From Reuters • Jan. 26, 2022

An unlimited toleration, after sects have diffused themselves and are strongly rooted, is the only expedient which can allay their fervor, and make the civil union acquire a superiority above religious distinctions.

From The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol.I., Part F. From Charles II. to James II. by Hume, David