civil marriage
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of civil marriage
First recorded in 1890–95
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.
Of the 316 civil marriage ceremonies held in Jersey in 2024, 135 took place at the Register Office - 24 more than the year before.
From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2025
Although today most Americans are likely to encounter a justice of the peace in the context of civil marriage ceremonies, this office was once the most important agent of law enforcement.
From Slate ● Dec. 5, 2023
Uner the proposals, same-sex couples could have a service in which there would be "prayers of dedication, thanksgiving or for God's blessing on the couple" in church after a civil marriage.
From Reuters ● Jan. 18, 2023
For Nammour and Jaber, a civil marriage was a no-brainer.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 25, 2022
The civil marriage before the registrar must be publicly performed in the presence of not less than two witnesses.
From Marriage and Divorce Laws of the World by Ringrose, Hyacinthe
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.
