Definition and pronunciation
wedlock /ˈwɛdˌlɑk/ — noun (formal/old-fashioned): the state of being married. Often appears in set phrases such as “in wedlock” and “out of wedlock.”
Easy explanation
Wedlock means marriage as a state. If two people are “in wedlock,” they’re married. If a child is “born out of wedlock,” it means the parents weren’t married at the time—an older phrase that many consider outdated or stigmatizing.
Grammatical formation
- Part of speech: uncountable noun (“in wedlock,” not “a wedlock”).
- Fixed phrases: in wedlock; out of wedlock; born in/out of wedlock.
- Rare/dated derivatives: wedlocked (adjective, “a long-wedlocked couple,” rarely used).
Meanings and nuances
- The married state: “They have lived in wedlock for forty years.”
- Legal/historical phrasing about parentage: “born out of wedlock” (now often replaced by neutral terms like “nonmarital birth” or simply avoided).
With prepositions and variants
- in wedlock → the condition of being married.
- out of wedlock → not within a marriage (for events like birth); avoid in modern sensitive contexts unless quoting legal text.
- within wedlock → slightly formal alternative to “in wedlock.”
Common collocations
in wedlock, out of wedlock, born out of wedlock, born in wedlock, within wedlock, lawful wedlock, wedlock partner (nonstandard; better: spouse/partner), wedlocked couple (rare)
Idioms and neighboring expressions
tie the knot, in matrimony, wedded bliss, the bonds of matrimony, in wedlock, jump the broom, walk down the aisle, nuptial bond, make it official
Word comparisons
- wedlock vs marriage: wedlock is formal/old-fashioned; marriage is the everyday term.
- wedlock vs matrimony: both formal; matrimony is common in religious or ceremonial contexts (“holy matrimony”).
- wedlock vs nuptials: nuptials refer to the wedding/ceremony, not the ongoing state.
- wedlock vs civil union/domestic partnership: legal recognitions that may offer similar rights but are distinct from marriage depending on jurisdiction.
Real-life examples
- “She prefers ‘marriage’ to ‘wedlock’ because it sounds less archaic.”
- “The statute once used ‘born out of wedlock,’ but the revised code avoids that phrase.”
- “They’ve been in wedlock since 1998 and run a family business.”
Sample sentences
- “They entered into wedlock in a small coastal ceremony.”
- “The novel treats wedlock as both duty and comfort.”
- “He argued that love, not wedlock, defines their partnership.”
- “Older documents list children as born out of wedlock.”
- “The bonds of wedlock can carry legal and financial consequences.”
- “Their parents remained in wedlock despite years of travel.”
- “Many jurisdictions no longer use wedlock in official forms.”
- “The sermon spoke of wedlock as a lifelong covenant.”
- “She researched how social attitudes toward wedlock have changed.”
- “They chose civil wedlock followed by a community celebration.”
Synonyms
marriage, matrimony, wedlock state, wedded state, union
Antonyms
divorce, annulment, separation, singlehood, unmarried status
Related terms
spouse, partner, husband, wife, marriage, matrimony, nuptials, wed, wedlock law (dated), legitimacy (outdated/legalistic), nonmarital birth, civil union, domestic partnership, marital status
Connection to sexuality
The word wedlock itself is not sexual. Historically, sexuality shows up around it in phrases like “born out of wedlock,” which were used to police sexual and family norms. Contemporary usage avoids that stigma and focuses on neutral, inclusive language.
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