betrothal

noun

be·​troth·​al bi-ˈtrō-t͟həl How to pronounce betrothal (audio) -ˈtrȯ- How to pronounce betrothal (audio)
-thəl, 
bē-
Synonyms of betrothalnext
1
: the act of betrothing or fact of being betrothed
2
: a mutual promise or contract for a future marriage

Synonyms of betrothal

Relevance
See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of betrothal in a Sentence

They were both young at the time of their betrothal. the couple's betrothal lasted four years
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But the line between celebrating and capitalizing on the betrothal — or any other pop culture moment — can be tough for brands to balance. — Rachel Treisman, NPR, 27 Aug. 2025 Thus, Edward’s choice of ring sweetly honors the couple’s half-decade of dating before getting engaged, the joy of their betrothal, and their hope for their future together. — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 9 Jan. 2026 Standing in the lovers’ way is Brandon’s lower rank, Mary’s betrothal to the French king, and the occasional assassination plot. — Elle Carroll, Vulture, 18 June 2024 The pendant was believed to have been created in 1518 to celebrate the betrothal of Henry and Katherine’s daughter Mary to the French heir apparent. — Reuters, NBC news, 10 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for betrothal

Word History

Etymology

betroth + -al entry 2

First Known Use

1683, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of betrothal was in 1683

Browse Nearby Words

betroth
betrothal
betrothed
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Betrothal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/betrothal. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

betrothal

noun
be·​troth·​al -ˈtrōt͟h-əl How to pronounce betrothal (audio) -ˈtrȯth- How to pronounce betrothal (audio)
-ˈtrōth-
: an engagement to be married

More from Merriam-Webster on betrothal

Nglish: Translation of betrothal for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about betrothal

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All