Definition: A question we often receive is "What is marriage?" In order to define marriage, you need to look at not only the historical period, but also on the geographical location and the cultural traditions of the individuals involved in the marriage relationship.
General definition of marriage: marriage is a social and legal contract between two individuals that unites their lives legally, economically, and emotionally.
Being married also gives legitimacy to sexual relations within the marriage.
Other definitions and forms of marriage include:- Arranged marriage
- Berdache marriage
- Boston marriage
- Celestial marriage
- Civil marriage
- Common law marriage
- Companionate marriage
- Cousin marriage
- Covenant marriage
- Cyber marriage aka E-marriage
- Endogamy
- Eternal marriage
- Exogamy
- Forced marriage
- Incestual marriage
- Interfaith marriage
- Interracial marriage
- Intra-faith marriage
- Left handed marriage
- Marriage of Convenience
- May-December marriage
- Misyar marriage
- Mixed marriage
- Morganatic marriage
- Monogamy
- Open marriage
- Polygamy
- Polygyny
- Polyandry
- Pragmatic
- Proxy marriage
- Romantic marriage
- Same-sex marriage
- Sealed marriage
- Secret marriage
- Shotgun marriage
- Soul mate marriage
- Urfi marriage
- Zombie marriage
Also Known As: matrimony, nuptials, institution, wedding, espousal, wedlock, formal union, social union, legal contract
Common Misspellings: marraige, marrage, mawwiage
Examples:
President George W. Bush: "What I do support is a notion that marriage is between a man and a woman."Source: "Bush uncertain about gay marriage ban."CNN.com. 7/2/2003.
