Laura NewberryJ. T. Shawcross
Usage of Marriage
The definition of the word marriage—or, more accurately, the understanding of what the institution of marriage properly consists of—continues to be highly controversial. This is not an issue to be resolved by dictionaries. Ultimately, the controversy involves cultural traditions, religious beliefs, legal rulings, and ideas about fairness and basic human rights. The principal point of dispute has to do with marriage between two people of the same sex, often referred to as same-sex marriage or gay marriage. Same-sex marriages are now recognized by law in a growing number of countries and were legally validated throughout the U.S. by the Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges in 2015. In many other parts of the world, marriage continues to be allowed only between men and women. The definition of marriage shown here is intentionally broad enough to encompass the different types of marriage that are currently recognized in varying cultures, places, religions, and systems of law.
Examples of marriage in a Sentence
Cara Tabachnick, CBS News, 6 Feb. 2026
The longtime Style section reporter defied gender stereotypes, covering current affairs and writing books about the Vietnam War and power-couple marriages.
—Washington Post Staff, Washington Post, 3 Feb. 2026
The novel’s end is structured like Shakespeare’s original—an ostensible comedy ending in a neat suite of marriages.
—Literary Hub, 3 Feb. 2026
Cameron, 71, spoke about his relationship with wife Suzy Amis Cameron and his past marriages to Sharon Williams, Gale Hurd, Kathryn Bigelow and Linda Hamilton during his recent appearance on the In Depth with Graham Bensinger podcast as part of his press tour for Avatar: Fire and Ash.
—Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for marriage
Cite this Entry
“Marriage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/marriage. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
marriage
noun
Legal Definition
marriage
noun
