Definition and pronunciation
extramarital — adjective: happening outside a marriage; usually describes a sexual or romantic relationship that involves at least one married person.
Pronunciation: /ˌɛk-strə-mɛr-ɪ-təl/.
Easy explanation
Extramarital means “outside the marriage.” If a married person has a romantic or sexual relationship with someone else, that relationship is extramarital.
Part of speech and grammar
- Adjective only: extramarital affair, extramarital relationship, extramarital sex.
- Adverbs nearby: occur extramaritally (rare; often rephrased).
- Noun forms used with it: affair, relationship, liaison, sex, conduct.
- Legal phrasing: extramarital relations may be “grounds for divorce” in some jurisdictions.
Register and tone
Neutral-to-formal. Common in journalism, legal writing, policy, and counseling. Tone can feel judgmental if used carelessly; in neutral writing, describe the behavior or context plainly.
Connection to sexuality
Direct. The word often modifies sexual or romantic conduct that breaks a marital exclusivity agreement. It does not describe non-consensual crimes; those should be named specifically (e.g., sexual assault).
Common collocations
extramarital affair; extramarital relationship; extramarital sex; alleged extramarital liaison; extramarital conduct; extramarital partner; extramarital pregnancy (historical/archaic phrasing); extramarital scandal.
Idioms and set phrases
- caught in an extramarital affair — standard news/legal phrasing.
- extramarital relations — formal or older legal language.
Prepositions and nuance
- extramarital relationship with [someone] — names the other person.
- extramarital sex with [someone] — clarifies the partner.
- extramarital conduct during [period] — timing.
- extramarital affair against [vows] — rhetorical emphasis on betrayal (less common in neutral prose).
Meaning doesn’t change with the preposition; the preposition just links the adjective to people, time, or context.
Word comparisons
- extramarital vs adulterous — extramarital is descriptive; adulterous can carry legal/moral charge.
- extramarital vs infidelity — infidelity includes emotional betrayal, not only sex.
- extramarital vs affair — affair suggests an ongoing romantic/sexual relationship; extramarital is any outside-the-marriage conduct.
- extramarital vs open marriage — in an open marriage, outside relationships are consensual and not considered infidelity within that agreement.
- extramarital vs premarital/fornication — premarital relates to unmarried people; “fornication” is an older moral/legal term.
Real-life examples
- The petition cited an extramarital affair as grounds for divorce.
- Reporters used “alleged extramarital relationship” until documents were confirmed.
- The couple later clarified they had an open marriage and that the relationship was not extramarital under their agreement.
- Counselors encouraged precise language rather than loaded labels.
Sample sentences
- The novel explores the fallout from an extramarital affair.
- Headlines focused on alleged extramarital conduct, but the statement disputed the claim.
- Policies require disclosure of relationships to avoid conflicts, whether extramarital or not.
- She denied having extramarital sex and requested privacy.
- The article distinguishes extramarital affairs from non-consensual offenses, which are crimes.
Synonyms
adulterous, outside-the-marriage, extraneous to marriage, illicit (value-laden), unfaithful, cheating, two-timing, nonmarital
Antonyms
marital, faithful, monogamous, exclusive, loyal, chaste, celibate
Related terms
adultery, adulterous, adulterer/adulteress, affair, infidelity, open marriage, consensual non-monogamy, divorce, separation, reconciliation, fidelity, marital vows, consent
Notes and etiquette
Use precise, non-stigmatizing language. If consent or legality is in question, name the issue directly (consent, capacity, coercion). When agreements allow outside partners (open marriage), avoid calling those relationships extramarital.
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