married
Americanadjective
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having a husband or wife
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joined in marriage
a married couple
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of or involving marriage or married persons
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closely or intimately united
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of married
Middle English word dating back to 1325–75; see origin at marry 1, -ed 2
Explanation
Married people are legally committed to each other — they're joined in marriage, or wedded. Even though you may feel emotionally committed to your mate, you need to legally tie the know to be considered married. A married couple has made an official, legal agreement to be partners. If your many brothers and sisters are all married, it means you have a lot of sisters- and brothers-in-law (the spouses of your siblings). You can also use married to describe things that have something to do with marriage: "Those two are the picture of married bliss." The Latin root of married is maritare, "to wed or to marry."
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.
Couples are also getting married later, points out Julia Rodgers, cofounder of US prenup platform HelloPrenup.
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
His wife wrote in to remind readers of the British tabloid that he was married.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
The document emphasizes marriage as a requirement for sex, and gives a nod to the “success sequence” of completing school, finding gainful employment, getting married, and then having children.
From Slate ● Jul. 28, 2026
Rather than the Virgin Mary, the money "should be invested in a hospital or orphanage," one married couple from Sierpce, some 30 kilometres from the statue, told AFP.
From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 2026
The couple told Kate and Mother that they were to be married.
From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock
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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.