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premarital

American  
[pree-mar-i-tl] / priˈmær ɪ tl /

adjective

  1. preceding marriage.


premarital British  
/ priːˈmærɪtəl /

adjective

  1. (esp of sexual relations) occurring before marriage Compare extramarital

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of premarital

First recorded in 1885–90; pre- + marital

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 complaint includes a copy of the premarital agreement.

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 22, 2026

Given that your house qualifies as premarital property, make sure you have the paperwork to show you did so with separate funds.

From MarketWatch Jul. 22, 2026

Most straight people already believed women should work, premarital sex is normal and unhappy couples should divorce.

From Salon Jun. 29, 2026

It is a significant change from the days when most meetings between young people were carefully managed by relatives with an eye to marriage, and any form of premarital romantic relations was off limits.

From The Wall Street Journal Feb. 14, 2026

Everyone needs and should have premarital counseling, if only to help them to this all important insight.

From Herein is Love A Study of the Biblical Doctrine of Love in Its Bearing on Personality, Parenthood, Teaching, and All Other Human Relationships. by Reuel L. Howe

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