wedlock

American  

[wed-lok] / ˈwɛdˌlɒk /

noun

1. the state of marriage; matrimony.

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wedlock British  

/ ˈwɛdlɒk /

noun

1. the state of being married

2. born when one's parents are not legally married

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wedlock Idioms  

1. see out of wedlock.

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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 ( 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.

Example Sentences

It simply did not matter whether one was born white or black, male or female, Jew or Gentile, in wedlock or out, eldest or youngest, or born to citizen parents or alien parents.

From The Wall Street Journal • Sep. 4, 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

A small-town kid born out of wedlock, he moved from the rustic countryside of Vinci, 30 miles west of Florence, to the sophisticated city to make his way.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 18, 2024

He is what’s known as a bastard, a child born out of wedlock.

From "The Mona Lisa Vanishes" by Nicholas Day