Definition and Pronunciation
Extramarital love (pronounced: /ˌɛkstrəˈmærɪtl lʌv/) is a noun phrase that refers to romantic or sexual affection between at least one married person and someone who is not their spouse. It is typically associated with affairs, infidelity, or adultery, and is condemned in many cultures and religions.
Easy Explanation
“Extramarital love” means love that happens outside marriage. For example, if a married man or woman has a secret relationship with another person, that is extramarital love.
Grammatical Formation
- Prefix: extra- (outside) + marital (relating to marriage).
- Adjective + Noun: extramarital + love.
- Related noun: extramarital affair.
Word Comparisons
- Extramarital love vs. adulterous love: both mean love outside marriage; adulterous love = strongly tied to sin/morality, extramarital = more neutral/descriptive.
- Extramarital love vs. unfaithful love: unfaithful = any betrayal in love; extramarital = specifically marriage-related.
- Extramarital love vs. illicit love: illicit = forbidden in general; extramarital = specifically outside marriage.
Connotations
- Negative: betrayal, disloyalty, immorality.
- Neutral/clinical: used in psychology and sociology for relationships outside marriage.
- Figurative: symbol of secrecy or passion beyond social rules.
Meaning with Prepositions
- Extramarital love with: extramarital love with a colleague.
- Extramarital love for: extramarital love for his neighbor’s wife.
- Extramarital love in: extramarital love in history and literature.
Real-Life Examples
- The novel tells a story of extramarital love that ends in tragedy.
- He admitted to extramarital love with his secretary.
- Sociologists study the causes of extramarital love and affairs.
- She was judged harshly for her extramarital love.
Synonyms
adulterous love, illicit love, unfaithful love, immoral love, forbidden love, secret love, affair
Antonyms
marital love, faithful love, pure love, loyal love, chaste love, virtuous love
Related Terms
- Adultery – sexual relations outside marriage.
- Infidelity – unfaithfulness in love or marriage.
- Affair – a secret relationship outside marriage.
- Unchastity – sexual impurity.
Common Collocations
- extramarital love affair
- extramarital love with colleagues
- extramarital love condemned
- extramarital love in literature
- tragic extramarital love
Idiomatic and Figurative Usage
- Extramarital love affair: the most common idiom, synonymous with cheating.
- Extramarital love as downfall: theme in stories of rulers and leaders.
- Extramarital love in society: symbol of broken trust.
Sample Sentences
- The preacher condemned extramarital love as sinful.
- She confessed to extramarital love that destroyed her family life.
- The play depicts extramarital love as both passionate and tragic.
- Extramarital love remains a sensitive issue in modern cultures.
Connection to Sexuality
Yes, directly. “Extramarital love” refers to sexual or romantic relationships that break the marital bond, often involving adultery or affairs. It is strongly linked to sexuality, morality, and fidelity.
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