wedlock
Americannoun
noun
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the state of being married
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born when one's parents are not legally married
Usage
What does wedlock mean? Wedlock is the state of being married. The term is rarely used by itself simply to refer to the state of marriage other than in very formal religious contexts. Instead, wedlock is most commonly used in criticism of the actions of couples who are not married, most especially in the phrase born out of wedlock—meaning born when one's parents are not legally married. This phrase and the beliefs and criticisms that go with it are often themselves criticized for stigmatizing children and their parents when those parents are not married or were not married at the time of the birth. Other instances of the use of the word wedlock also involve criticism of actions taken by partners who are not married, such as living together or engaging in sexual activity out of wedlock.
Etymology
Origin of wedlock
before 1100; Middle English wedlok, Old English wedlāc literally, a pledging, equivalent to wed pledge ( see wed) + -lāc verbal noun suffix
Explanation
The noun wedlock means marriage; you might describe your newly-married sister as "entering the magical state of wedlock." Wedlock is an old-fashioned word for matrimony, the state of being married. It comes up most often in the phrase "out of wedlock," when gossipers are describing a baby born to unmarried parents. Even though wedlock sounds like it would have a root meaning of "locked into marriage," it actually comes from the Old English wedlac, from wed, "pledge," and lac, which denotes action.
Vocabulary lists containing wedlock
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.
Younger Americans view financial security as a prerequisite for wedlock, a shift that’s contributing to delayed or declining marriage rates.
From The Wall Street Journal • Sep. 24, 2025
Maternity homes were popular before Roe as a place where usually teen mothers went to secretly have babies that were conceived out of wedlock.
From Slate • Jun. 24, 2025
Both paint wedlock as a fortunate state, when it works.
From Salon • May 29, 2025
Women brought the victims to her, babies born out of wedlock, perhaps one too many for a household or the mother too young.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 6, 2024
If they came together again it would be in wedlock.
From "Go Tell It on the Mountain" by James Baldwin
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.
