elopement
Americannoun
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an act or instance of running off secretly, especially to be married.
-
an act or instance of a patient or person in care leaving a hospital, care facility, or safe area independently without notifying anyone.
Nursing homes need strategies to cope with elopement.
-
a small wedding ceremony with few or no guests and often without a reception.
The couple had a quiet elopement in Dublin with only their parents and an officiant present.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of elopement
First recorded in 1600–10; elope ( def. ) + -ment ( def. )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The Janet Jackson that “Control” unleashed on the world was a teenager shaking off the dust of two forgettable pop albums and a misguided elopement with another pop star, James DeBarge, when she was 18.
From Salon ● Apr. 11, 2026
When she shot her first elopement in Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park, she was transformed.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 6, 2025
The two heard no warnings, so they pressed forward with their elopement plans, driving south to a beach just past Wailea, where they exchanged vows under perfect blue skies.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 11, 2023
An elopement occurs when the happy couple secretly flees, usually in the middle of the night and usually to avoid parental objections.
From Washington Post ● Feb. 9, 2023
The operator whose elopement caused Miss Genovese to be absent.
From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse
During the elopements, her husband Bill takes photos via drone and shoots video.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 6, 2025
The rule about elopements is to do it first and announce it afterward.
From Washington Post ● Feb. 21, 2022
Some look like elopements or first-time trips for nervous couples; others look like tearful reunions or contemplative solo journeys.
From Slate ● Feb. 24, 2021
“We cannot recommend adventure elopements enough, especially for LGBTQ+ couples who have difficult relationships with family or friends,” Amanda said.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 17, 2020
The memory of my escapade with Gabriel had cooled my ardor somewhat on the subject of elopements, and at first I made some objections.
From Fr?d?rique; vol. 1 by Kock, Charles Paul de
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
