What Is the Definition of Marriage?

Take this crash course to learn about the various meanings.

Bride and groom beaming and linking arms on their wedding day while guests toss flower petals

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Marriage is ubiquitous in our society. We’re constantly surrounded by messages that it’s normal, and even expected, for two people who are in love to get married, whether it’s plastered on advertisements, portrayed in movies, or witnessed in our own families and social circles. Since the institution of marriage has existed for centuries, and it’s prevalent in most cultures, tying the knot has truly become customary. But what does marriage really mean?

From the dictionary to religious institutions, different entities have various ways of defining this type of union. However, a commonly accepted and encompassing definition describes marriage as a formal union and a social and legal contract between two individuals that legally, economically, and emotionally unite their lives. The contractual portion implies that the couple has legal obligations to one another throughout their lives (or until they decide to get divorced).

If you’re curious about what marriage actually means, we’re breaking down the various definitions to know. Plus, we also take a look at different types of marriage and common alternatives to know. 

The Most Common Definitions of Marriage

There are several definitions of marriage that exist in our society. Read on to explore how various entities define this type of union.

The Dictionary Definition of Marriage

According to Merriam-Webster, there are three different definitions of marriage. The first is a) the state of becoming spouses in a consensual and contractual relationship that the law recognizes, b) the mutual relation of married people, and c) the institution where individuals marry one another. The second definition refers to an act of marrying or the rite, such as the wedding ceremony or other celebrations, that mark a marriage. The third and final meaning is an intimate or close union.

The Legal Definition of Marriage

The Legal Information Institute defines marriage as the legal union of individuals. Based on this entity, the term has three basic elements: the partners’ ability to marry one another, both parties’ mutual consent, and a marriage contract that the law requires. 

According to legal doctrine, marriage has always been viewed as a legal contract, but each person’s rights and responsibilities have evolved over time. The Legal Information Institute explains that getting married changes the legal status of both partners, meaning that each person receives new obligations once they update their relationship status. States regulate marriage, and most of them limit people to monogamous marriages and concede that someone can only remarry once they’ve gotten divorced, their spouse has died, or their marriage is annulled.

In 2015, the definition of marriage received a historic amendment: The Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples have the right to marry one another.

Religious Definitions of Marriage

There are slight variations in the meaning of marriage depending on religious institutions. Many religions recognize the sacredness of two people marrying one another, but not all of them describe this relationship in the same way. 

Based on the Bible, Christianity asserts that this type of relationship is a covenant between a man and a woman that God ordains. Getting married is a lifelong commitment that is characterized by faithfulness and sacrificial love. On the other hand, Judaism believes that marriage is a spiritual bonding between two people, which fulfills God’s commandment, according to the Torah and Talmud. In Hinduism, there are many different types of marriages, but each is a sacred union that marks two individuals becoming a joint entity and living a fulfilling life, according to India-based law website CLATalogue.

Cultural Definitions of Marriage

Our world is filled with different cultures, and each of them views marriage in a different light. For instance, Western culture defines it as a culturally and legally recognized union between two people, who have certain rights and obligations, per Britannica. In China, although there are variations in the term depending on the location, traditionally, marriage refers to a bond that ties different families together, according to Georgetown University's Berkley Center. Now, however, getting married is more focused on love between two people. Another example of a cultural difference in the word is in Ethiopia, where marriage is a monogamous and voluntary union of two people, per Sabinet African Journals

Bride and groom holding hands and looking at one another while standing on a walkway outside

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Different Types of Marriages

While there are different definitions of a traditional marriage, there are also various types of marriages that couples can participate in willingly or circumstantially. Below, we define each one.

  • Arranged marriage: Spouses are chosen by family members.
  • Boston marriage: The union between two women.
  • Celestial marriage: A Mormon term to describe a relationship destined to last beyond death.
  • Common law marriage: A legally recognized union, although there is no marriage license
  • Companionate marriage: A union based mainly on companionship.
  • Cousin marriage: The betrothed couple are cousins.
  • Covenant marriage: A union where both parties legally agree to stay together until death.
  • Cyber marriage or E-marriage: A marriage that takes place on the internet and is not legally binding.
  • Endogamy: Marrying someone only from your local community.
  • Eternal marriage: Another term for a covenant marriage.
  • Exogamy: When spouses marry outside of their local community.
  • Forced marriage: A marriage where one or both parties are forced into the union.
  • Incestual marriage: A union where the spouses are related, such as a parent marrying their child.
  • Interfaith marriage: The marriage between two people of different religions.
  • Interracial marriage: The marriage between two people of different races.
  • Intra-faith marriage: The union of two people of the same religion.
  • Left-handed marriage: When the betrothed couple is of different social status, such as when a member of the royal family marries a non-royal.
  • Marriage of convenience: A union based on something other than love, such as financial gain.
  • May-December marriage: When two people with a large age gap marry one another.
  • Misyar marriage: A marriage contract between Sunni Muslims.
  • Mixed marriage: A union between two people of different faiths or races.
  • Morganatic marriage: Another term for a left-handed marriage.
  • Monogamy: When partners only have sexual relations with one another.
  • Open marriage: When a couple agrees they can have a sexual relationship with other people.
  • Polygamy: Having more than one wife or husband at the same time.
  • Polygyny: When a man is married to several women at the same time.
  • Polyandry: When a woman is married to several men at the same time.
  • Pragmatic: Another term for an arranged marriage.
  • Romantic marriage: A relationship where passion is of the utmost importance.
  • Same-sex marriage: The marriage of two people of the same gender.
  • Zombie marriage: A relationship where the passion has died.

Popular Alternatives to Marriage

While marriage offers many legal and financial protections, it isn’t a fit for everyone. There are numerous alternatives to marriage, which we unpack below.

Domestic Partnerships

One possible alternative is a domestic partnership (also known as a civil union), which is considered a less formal and less permanent form of marriage. This type of relationship refers to a legally recognized union between two people who live together and share a common life, but they are not married. With domestic partnerships, both parties receive certain legal rights and responsibilities that the state decides, like inheritance rights, hospital visitation rights, and access to healthcare benefits, but they don’t have the same level of protection that a traditional marriage would offer them. This alternative gives people the ability to maintain their independence and freedom without entering the confines of a traditional union.

Cohabitation Agreements

Another option for partners who aren’t interested in getting married but who share a domestic life is a cohabitation agreement. In this type of union, two unmarried partners draw up a legal contract—typically along with a lawyer’s assistance— outlining how they’ll handle and distribute property, finances, debt, and children (if applicable) within the relationship—plus how they’ll proceed if the relationship ends. Instead of a government entity deciding what rights and obligations each person owes to one another, both people in the partnership make those decisions. This means that cohabitation agreements don’t offer any of the protections that traditional marriages provide, like the ability to use one another’s health insurance.

Living Apart Together

Living apart together is another alternative to marriage, where both parties are romantically involved, but each person lives in a different household. In addition to their own space, both partners in the relationship are free to explore their individual interests and maintain separate social lives, but they are still committed to one another and spend a significant amount of time together. While some couples have no choice but to live apart due to external circumstances, such as a family member’s failing health or a job relocation, others voluntarily enter this kind of union since it provides a high level of autonomy. 

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