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.

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extramarital British  

/ ˌɛkstrəˈmærɪtəl /

adjective

1. (esp of sexual relations) occurring outside marriage

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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

Extramarital affairs and nonmarital births have always provided challenges for courts grappling with that question, but assisted reproduction has added another dimension.

From Washington Post • Apr. 1, 2016