traditional marriage

American  

noun

1. Anthropology. the primary established form of marriage recognized in a given country or religious or social group at a given time.

   In that culture, traditional marriage requires the families of the future bride and groom to engage in ritual visits and exchange gifts.

2. marriage between one man and one woman (primarily used by opponents of same-sex marriage).

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Etymology

Origin of traditional marriage

First recorded in 1860–65

Example Sentences

After a drive by the UN Population Fund in 2020, more than 100 of Malawi's traditional chiefs - about a quarter of the total - have promised to fight traditional marriage in their communities.

From BBC • Nov. 28, 2023

Lindevaldsen, who describes herself as a defender of traditional marriage, is a law professor at the Liberty University School of Law in Lynchburg, Virginia.

From Seattle Times • May 24, 2023

Some wonder how the state has come to play such a prominent role in the Supreme Court’s consideration of whether same-sex marriage will be treated differently from traditional marriage.

From Washington Post • Dec. 4, 2022

What about its depiction of "traditional marriage"? Strangely, "A Christmas . . . Present" doesn't make the most compelling case for it.

From Salon • Nov. 27, 2022

Aunt Elisabet draped around our shoulders the traditional marriage cloth called nzole, a beautiful double-sized pagne that symbolizes the togetherness of marriage.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver