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marriage equality

American  

noun

  1. the state of having the same rights and responsibilities of marriage as others, regardless of one's sexual orientation or gender identity.

  2. legal recognition of the rights of marriage regardless of one's sexual orientation or gender identity.

    If it becomes law, the bill would establish marriage equality for same-sex couples.


Etymology

Origin of marriage equality

First recorded in 1995–2000


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:

A recent Gallup poll has found that after years of steady gains, support for marriage equality and same-sex relationships has slipped, particularly among Republicans.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 4, 2026

We’ve seen the advent of marriage equality, the #MeToo movement, the Black Lives Matter movement—there’s just been a lot of change afoot, and we’re seeing a real backlash to that.

From Slate ● Mar. 10, 2026

Reiner was also a longtime influential player in Democratic politics, which included co-founding an organization that played a pivotal role in the fight for marriage equality.

From Salon ● Dec. 16, 2025

The ECJ's ruling was welcomed by Katarzyna Kotula, a secretary of state and coalition ally of Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who said it was an important step on the path to marriage equality.

From BBC ● Nov. 25, 2025

These rulings merit far more attention and scorn than a long-shot bid to take down marriage equality.

From Slate ● Aug. 13, 2025

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