extramarital

American  

[ek-struh-mar-i-tl] / ˌɛk strəˈmær ɪ tl /

adjective

1. pertaining to sexual relations with someone other than one's spouse.

   extramarital affairs.

---

extramarital British  

/ ˌɛkstrəˈmærɪtəl /

adjective

1. (esp of sexual relations) occurring outside marriage

---

Etymology

Origin of extramarital

First recorded in 1925–30; extra- + marital

Explanation

The word extramarital describes relationships that happen outside of a marriage, between two people who aren't married to each other. An extramarital affair can damage a marriage. The adjective extramarital is almost always used to describe a romantic relationship or encounter that happens between a married person and someone who is not the person's spouse. If a married man sneaks off to meet his secret girlfriend, you can say that the man is having an extramarital affair. In this case, the Latin prefix extra means "outside," and marital comes from the Latin maritalis, "of marriage or married people."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

extramarital

Then, there is former Gov. Mark Sanford, who gained fame as a budget hawk and infamy for his extramarital adventures on the “Appalachian Trail.”

From Slate ● Aug. 11, 2026

Gustave Flaubert’s Madame Bovary embarks on a series of extramarital affairs after indulging in romantic fiction.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 19, 2026

During the trial, the court heard how Richins, 35, had racked up millions of dollars in debt, had taken out life insurance policies on her husband, and was having an extramarital affair.

From BBC ● Mar. 16, 2026

The former monarch, 87, has lived in self-imposed exile in the United Arab Emirates since 2020 after a series of extramarital and financial scandals tarnished his reputation.

From Barron's ● Dec. 1, 2025

Women who claim their husbands are not doing their share of their housework or who want to put a stop to an extramarital affair bring the matter before a judge.

From "Dreaming in Cuban" by Cristina García