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

See Examples For:

common-law marriage

Many people wrongly believe co-habiting couples have automatic legal and inheritance rights under "common-law marriage", says Alastair Sinclair, family lawyer at Setfords.

From BBC ● Jul. 4, 2026

And if people think common-law marriage is a good alternative, think again.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 24, 2024

Lawmakers here are considering a bill that would dub the ukulele the official state instrument, a designation that seems in some ways like a formal ceremony for a common-law marriage.

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 13, 2014

When they broke up, she sued and won a divorce settlement under Alabama’s common-law marriage statutes.

From New York Times ● Apr. 26, 2013

In 1901 came the great New York statute abolishing the common-law marriage, which we have discussed above.

From Popular Law-making by Stimson, Frederic Jesup