prenup
Americannoun
noun
Usage
What is a prenup? Prenup is short for prenuptial agreement, a legal contract entered into by a couple before marriage that specifies things like the division of their finances and assets, especially in case the marriage ends, such as through divorce. The word prenuptial means before marriage. Prenup is informal but very commonly used, especially in casual contexts. Every prenup is different based on what the couple wants it to include. Most prenups cover things like which member of the couple is entitled to certain portions of property, inheritance, and savings, or which member is responsible for certain things, such as debt. The popular opinion about prenups has traditionally been quite negative—many people view them as pessimistic and associate their use with rich celebrities who marry people who aren’t as rich. Plus, no one who’s about to get married likes to admit that there’s a possibility that the marriage might not work out. However, many people consider it good sense to enter into a prenup, and many legal advisors recommend prenups, especially since deciding how to split up assets during a divorce can be extremely strained. Example: Everyone thought it was strange that we had a prenup, but life is unpredictable.
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.
Jackie Combs, a divorce attorney, said the prenup conversation often focuses on the wrong thing.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026
A hedge-fund manager might structure a prenup so that he and his partner divide the first $20 million that he makes after their wedding.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026
If the right to live in the home in question did originate from a prenuptial agreement rather than a life-estate deed, the wording of the prenup would be critical.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 3, 2026
If the surviving spouse is living in the home but doesn’t actually own it, the life-estate deed or prenup needs to clearly reflect who owns the property.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 3, 2026
I bet she wishes she had written an escape clause into the prenup.
From "Wintergirls" by Laurie Halse Anderson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
