From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishmarriagemar‧riage /ˈmærɪdʒ/ ●●● S2 W2 noun 1 [countable, uncountable]MARRY the relationship between two people who are married, or the state of being married She has three daughters from a previous marriage.marriage to his marriage to Marilyn Monroemarriage between In Denmark they have legalized marriage between gay couples.RegisterIn everyday English, when talking about the action of marrying, people usually use the expression get married rather than marriage: I think they’re too young for marriage. → I think they’re too young to get married.2 [countable]MARRY the ceremony in which two people get married SYN wedding The marriage took place at St Bartholomew’s Church.3 → by marriageCOLLOCATIONSadjectivesa happy/unhappy marriageOurs was a very happy marriage.a successful marriageThe key to a successful marriage is friendship.a failed/broken marriageAfter two failed marriages, she was not willing to risk marrying again.somebody’s first/second etc marriageShe had two children from her first marriage.a previous marriageAnne is his daughter from a previous marriage.an arranged marriage (=when your parents choose the person you will marry)In their culture, there is a tradition of arranged marriage.a same-sex/gay marriage (=a marriage between two homosexual people, which is not legal in many places)a proposal to allow same-sex marriage in the statea mixed marriage (=between people of different races or religions)Her parents disapproved of mixed marriages.an interracial marriage (=between people of different races)Interracial marriage is more common than it used to be.a loveless marriageWhy should I stay in a loveless marriage?a childless marriageIt was a happy but childless marriage.verbshave a long/happy etc marriageThey have a happy marriage.a marriage endsHer three marriages all ended in divorce.a marriage breaks down/up (=ends because of disagreements)Liz’s marriage broke up after only eight months.save your marriage (=do things to try to stay together as a married couple)They’re going to counseling to try to save their marriage.propose marriage formal (=ask someone to marry you)He plucked up the courage to propose marriage to her.consummate a marriage formal (=make your marriage complete by having sex)She claimed that he abused her and never consummated the marriage.a marriage is annulled formal (=is officially ended by a court or church)Henry VIII had his first marriage annulled.phrasesthe breakdown/breakup of somebody’s marriage (=the end of it)The breakup of her marriage had a devastating effect on her.a proposal of marriage formal (=when someone asks you to marry them)She rejected his proposal of marriage.be born outside marriage (=be born when your parents are not married)Four in ten children are born outside marriage.sex before/outside marriageHer religious beliefs prevented sex before marriage.ask for somebody’s hand in marriage old-fashioned (=ask someone to marry you, or ask their parents for permission to marry)He asked my father for my hand in marriage.the sanctity of marriage formal (=marriage seen as something that is very important and must be preserved and respected)COMMON ERRORS ► Don’t say ‘marriage life’. Say married life.
Examples from the Corpus
marriage• She said she loved him, they said they loved him, but somehow nobody would fix a date for a marriage.• And entering upon a marriage calls for human decision.• Over a third of all marriages now end in divorce.• City Hall keeps a record of all the births, deaths and marriages in the county.• Many people still disapprove of sex before marriage.• After a disastrous first marriage to a young soldier, Kylie didn't feel like rushing into another relationship.• My first marriage, to Mandy, went wrong because we married too young.• My folks have had a long and happy marriage.• And she watched from the sidelines as his marriage dissolved and became scandal fodder.• It is remarkable that we have survived 43 years of marriage in such conflict.• We had to bring our marriage certificate to prove that we are married.• She already has two children from a previous marriage.• What's the secret of a successful marriage?• She imagines that marriage to such a man would offer mental enrichment and the opportunity for good works.• Did the marriage take place in wartime?• The marriage took place without the bride's parents' consent.• The marriage took place at Bethel Lutheran church.• Their marriage ended in divorce in 1995.• Do you think marriage is still important to young people?• One in three marriages ends in divorce.Origin marriage (1200-1300) French mariage, from marier; → MARRY 