common-law marriage

American  

noun

1. a marriage without a civil or ecclesiastical ceremony, generally resulting from an agreement to marry followed by the couple's living together.

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common-law marriage Cultural  

1. A legal marriage brought about by the cohabitation of a man and a woman, or by their agreement to consider themselves married, rather than by a wedding. (See common law.)

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Etymology

Origin of common-law marriage

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

Only eight states recognize common-law marriage, and California is not one of them.

From Los Angeles Times • May 24, 2024

Murray said the bad blood is rooted in a common-law marriage between his sister and Sottile’s brother.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 12, 2017

Knight, a confederate army deserter, was in a common-law marriage with a former slave.

From The Guardian • Dec. 29, 2015

This was just enough time to run down to the courthouse for a civil ceremony, which formalized what was already a common-law marriage.

From Slate • Feb. 5, 2013

Douglas thought that the real question was the common-law marriage.

From Children of the Market Place by Masters, Edgar Lee