matrimonial
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of matrimonial
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English word from Late Latin word mātrimōniālis. See matrimony, -al 1
Explanation
Anything matrimonial has something to do with marriage or married people. A formal way to say "wedding," for example, would be "matrimonial event." Marriage is a matrimonial agreement or bond, and the house a newly wed couple moves into can be called a matrimonial home. Matrimonial law governs the rules of marriage — like the license that declares two people legally married, or the age a person must be, legally, to get married. Originally, matrimonial was a noun meaning "a marriage," and then "a classified ad posted by someone seeking a spouse."
Vocabulary lists containing matrimonial
Bud, Not Buddy
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Vocabulary from Readings 2, Unit 4
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Novel Study: The Namesake, Chapters 1–4
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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.
I’m back from a matrimonial break with a pep in my step and a shiny new ring on my finger.
From Slate ● Aug. 5, 2026
For Harriet Newman Cohen, a 93-year-old matrimonial lawyer who still goes to court and just wrote a memoir, some of the most interesting and rewarding years of her life have been her later decades.
From BBC ● Jun. 13, 2026
We pulled together sample provisions of a modern prenup, with the help of Julia Rodgers, founder of the website HelloPrenup, and Sherri Sharma, a matrimonial lawyer at Mosberg Sharma Stambleck Gross.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 23, 2026
“However, if the matrimonial pot does not meet the financial needs of both parties, the U.K. family court may consider splitting pre-marital assets acquired before marriage, as we explain below,” the law firm adds.
From MarketWatch ● Feb. 17, 2026
And the teacher was not only an intellectual paragon and a social leader, but also the matrimonial catch of the countryside.
From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
