Definition and Pronunciation
Lovemarriage is a marriage in which the individuals choose each other based primarily on mutual love, affection, and personal choice rather than family arrangement or matchmaking. The decision to marry is made voluntarily by the couple, although family support may or may not be involved.
Pronunciation: LUV MAR-ij
Easy Explanation
A love marriage is a marriage in which two people decide to marry because they love each other and wish to build a life together.
Unlike an arranged marriage, the couple themselves take the primary role in choosing their partner. In many cases, they date or maintain a romanticrelationship before marrying, although this is not always the case.
Love marriages are common in many parts of the world, while in others they exist alongside arranged marriages and other cultural traditions.
Grammatical Formation
- Part of speech: Noun
- Plural form: Love marriages
- Related adjective: Love-marriage (used attributively in some contexts)
- Related terms: Arranged marriage, courtship, marriage
Word Comparisons
Love Marriage vs. Arranged Marriage
A love marriage is based primarily on the couple’s own choice and mutual affection. An arranged marriage involves family members, matchmakers, or others helping to identify or introduce potential spouses, although the level of personal choice varies across cultures.
Love Marriage vs. Forced Marriage
A love marriage is entered voluntarily by both partners. A forced marriage occurs when one or both individuals do not freely and fully consent. Forced marriage is a human rights violation and differs fundamentally from both love and arranged marriages.
Love Marriage vs. Courtship
Courtship is the period during which two people get to know each other before deciding whether to marry. A love marriage is the marriage that may result from such a relationship.
Love Marriage vs. Civil Marriage
A civil marriage is a marriage legally recognized by the government. A love marriage describes how the partners chose each other, not the legal form of the marriage. A love marriage may also be a civil marriage, a religious marriage, or both.
Connotations
The term love marriage generally has positive connotations. It is associated with personal choice, mutual affection, emotional connection, and individual autonomy. Its social acceptance varies across cultures and communities.
Meaning with Prepositions
Love marriage between
Example: The love marriage between the couple received support from both families.
Love marriage with
Example: She entered into a love marriage with her university classmate.
Love marriage after
Example: They had a love marriage after several years of dating.
Love marriage in
Example: Love marriages have become increasingly common in many societies.
Real-Life Examples
Two people who meet at university, through work, or via mutual friends may develop a romantic relationship and later decide to marry. In some cultures, families actively support the couple’s decision, while in others, they may initially prefer an arranged marriage before accepting the couple’s choice.
Synonyms
- Marriage by choice
- Self-choice marriage
- Self-selected marriage
- Marriage for love (descriptive phrase)
Antonyms
- Arranged marriage (context-dependent)
- Forced marriage (not simply the opposite, but fundamentally different because it lacks free consent)
Related Terms
- Marriage
- Arranged marriage
- Courtship
- Dating
- Romantic relationship
- Romantic love
- Love
- Engagement
- Partner
- Spouse
- Commitment
- Family
- Consent
- Relationship
- Human sexuality
Common Collocations
- Love marriage
- Successful love marriage
- Love marriage couple
- Love marriage and family
- Love marriage after dating
- Love marriage versus arranged marriage
- Love marriage ceremony
- Love marriage relationship
- Love marriage decision
- Love marriage tradition
- Interfaith love marriage
- Intercultural love marriage
Idiomatic and Figurative Usage
Love marriage is a descriptive social and cultural term. It has no established idiomatic or figurative meaning.
Sample Sentences
- The couple chose a love marriage after several years of dating.
- Love marriages are common in many countries.
- Some families fully support love marriages.
- Others continue to prefer arranged marriages.
- Every marriage is unique.
- Mutual respect strengthens lasting relationships.
- Open communication supports healthy marriages.
- Cultural traditions influence marriage choices around the world.
Connection to Sexuality
A love marriage is a type of marriage based on mutual choice and romantic affection, not a sexual orientation, gender identity, or sexual behavior. People of different sexual orientations and gender identities may enter love marriages where legally and socially recognized.
Understanding love marriage helps distinguish between marriage traditions, relationship choices, sexual orientation, gender identity, and human sexuality. It also highlights the importance of mutual consent, personal autonomy, communication, and respect in healthy marital relationships.
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