prenuptial agreement

American  

[pree-nuhp-shuhl uh-gree-muhnt, ‐chuhl] / priˈnʌp ʃəl əˈgri mənt, ‑tʃəl /

Sometimes antenuptial agreement

noun

Law.

1. Also prenup a contract between two people who are about to marry regarding their respective property and support rights upon termination of the marriage by divorce or death, and sometimes regarding property rights during the marriage.

---

prenuptial agreement British  

noun

1. a contract made between a man and woman before they marry, agreeing on the distribution of their assets in the event of divorce

---

Example Sentences

It’s also smart to have a prenuptial agreement, particularly if one partner comes into the marriage with substantial assets and/or it’s a second marriage and there are children from the first marriage.

From MarketWatch • May 26, 2026

About one in five adults who are either married or engaged had a prenuptial agreement, according to a 2023 survey by Harris Poll.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026

In addition to the wedding certificate, James signed a prenuptial agreement that Burden’s mother insisted upon.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2026

As for your prenuptial agreement: They are not legally binding in England and Wales, but they may be taken into account by a judge when deciding on a divorce settlement, Reiss Edwards adds.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 17, 2026

The two had disagreements over money and he voided parts of their prenuptial agreement, according to people familiar with the matter.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 5, 2025