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marriage contract

marriage contract

5 3.6
A written agreement two people sign before they marry about money and property
  • noun
  • /ˈmɛrɪdʒ ˈkɒntrækt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : contrato matrimonial
  • Signing a marriage contract can help clarify each partner's rights regarding financial matters and property ownership.
  • a valid marriage contract
  • conditions in a marriage contract

When you get married, you are signing a marriage contract one way or another.

Examples

  • The temple lawyer is the local official responsible for marriage contracts, divorces and wrangles over property.

  • "I just want my government to enforce the legal obligations of the marriage contract, in whatever form that takes."

    Blog text (30)
  • A marriage contract is the way it should be.

  • A marriage contract signed 20 years ago...

  • When you get married, you are signing a marriage contract one way or another.

  • In such a situation, one may find this condition documented in the marriage contract.

    Academic text (2003)
  • "Marriage draws its strength from the nature of the civil marriage contract itself and the recognition of that contract by the state."

    Academic text (2008)
  • Perhaps, if he were truly a reasonable man, he would be willing to renegotiate the marriage contract.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • The time has come when she must fuIfiII the marriage contract negotiated...

  • Before the wedding, the couple met with a lawyer to discuss their marriage contract and ensure they understood all the terms.

Synonyms

contract
vsmarriage contract
2.8

A written agreement between people or companies that the law can enforce

is specifically a pre-wedding legal document about property and finances
agreement
vsmarriage contract
  • Formal
1.4

A promise made between two or more people, often written

is a specific pre-wedding legal document rather than a general arrangement
prenuptial agreement
vsmarriage contract
  • Formal
12 6.1

A legal contract made before marriage that says who keeps property if they divorce

is used more broadly to set terms and finances beyond only failure cases
marriage settlement
vsmarriage contract
  • Formal
1 6.4

A formal agreement before marriage about money and property rights

is the general legal document covering terms and finances
ketubah
vsmarriage contract
  • Formal
1 9.9

A traditional Jewish marriage contract that records the rights and duties of the bride and groom

is a general legal pre-wedding document focusing on property and finances

How Legal

prenuptial agreement
  • Formal
12 6.1
marriage contract
  • Specialized
5 3.6
written agreement
  • Formal
3 2.7

Surface Forms

Morphology

marriage + contract

The meaning is directly and transparently derived from combining 'marriage' (a legally recognized partnership) with 'contract' (a written, enforceable agreement): a contract relating to marriage terms. This is a straightforward noun+noun composition following common patterns present across many languages, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents would readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Marriage contract: The noun marriage contract comes from the old practice of families writing down promises before a wedding. The words marriage, meaning the wedding, and contract, meaning a written promise, show why it means 'a legal agreement' about money and property made before two people marry.