Definition: A shotgun marriage is a marriage that is forced upon the participants usually because the bride is pregnant.
A shotgun wedding is a misguided event to protect the family of the bride from embarrassment due to her pregnancy.
A shotgun bride is an unfortunate woman who is caught up in unhealthy family dynamics and control issues.
Shotgun marriages begin with problems. Without good communication skills and honesty in the marriage relationship, the shotgun marriages end with even more problems.
Also Known As: Forced marriage, shotgun wedding, pragmatic marriage
Common Misspellings: shot gun marriage
Examples:
When the young woman told her parents that she was pregnant, her father forced her into a shotgun marriage.
