prenuptial

American  

[pree-nuhp-shuhl, ‑chuhl] / priˈnʌp ʃəl, ‑tʃəl /

adjective

1. before marriage.

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prenuptial British  

/ -tʃəl, priːˈnʌpʃəl /

adjective

1. occurring or existing before marriage

   a prenuptial agreement

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Pronunciation

See nuptial.

Usage

What does prenuptial mean? Prenuptial means before marriage. Prenuptial is most commonly used in the term prenuptial agreement, which refers to 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. It is commonly called a prenup for short. Example: Everyone thought it was strange that we had a prenuptial agreement, but life is unpredictable.

Etymology

Origin of prenuptial

First recorded in 1865–70; pre- + nuptial

Explanation

Anything that's prenuptial happens before two people get married. A common prenuptial superstition is that a couple shouldn't see each other on the day of their wedding until they're actually walking down the aisle. You're most likely to find this adjective in the legal term "prenuptial agreement," or prenup for short. This friendly-sounding phrase describes a legal contract signed by two people before their marriage, in which they agree to certain terms if they eventually get divorced. A prenuptial agreement might include details of dividing money or property, for example. Pre- means "before," and nuptial comes from the Latin nuptiae, "wedding."

Example Sentences

Prenuptial or premarital agreements, often called “prenups,” have a reputation for being a tool the ultra-wealthy use to protect their assets.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 22, 2023

Prenuptial agreements could safeguard the property rights of heiresses, but these were rare.

From Textbooks • Jan. 18, 2018

Prenuptial agreements, too, have become more popular here — and more widely accepted by the courts.

From Washington Post • Dec. 25, 2014

Prenuptial agreements, Jagger recently said, "don't stand up in court hardly."

From Time Magazine Archive

Prenuptial medical inspection should become the custom, if not by law at least as a voluntary procedure.

From Being Well-Born An Introduction to Eugenics by Guyer, Michael F.