marriage settlement
1
6.4
- noun
- /ˈmɛrɪdʒ ˈsɛtəlmənt/
- Formal
:
capitulaciones matrimoniales
- As part of their marriage settlement, they agreed on how to divide their assets in case of a divorce.
Examples
-
Before their wedding, they created a comprehensive marriage settlement that outlined their financial responsibilities.
-
The marriage settlements are agreed upon.
Fiction book (1999) -
"The Lady and Her Marriage Settlement." Englishwoman's Domestic Magazine 1 Mar. 1864: 207-11.
Academic text (2016) -
Chiltern repays her through the sale of family property, but since he does so after her marriage, she cannot preserve it: "If it had been paid in the usual way at my marriage, settlements would have been required that it should come back to the family after Mr. Kennedy's death in the event of my having no child."
Academic text (2016) -
"Perhaps we have been a little too visible," Eleanor was saying, "but right now no one in Charleston can afford to disapprove of the Butlers because Rosemary might just decide to accept the courtship of a son or brother or cousin of the family, and her marriage settlement could solve any number of awkwardnesses."
Fiction book (1991) -
The marriage settlement ensured that both partners had a clear understanding of their financial rights.
Synonyms
57
5.4
An agreement people make before marriage about dividing money and property if they divorce
12
6.1
A legal contract made before marriage that says who keeps property if they divorce
5
3.6
A written agreement two people sign before they marry about money and property
1
9.9
A traditional Jewish marriage contract that records the rights and duties of the bride and groom
A legal contract a couple makes before marriage saying who owns what if they separate
Land or money given to a woman as part of a marriage agreement to keep if her husband dies
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: 'marriage' (the union) + 'settlement' (an agreement) yields an agreement relating to marriage, typically about financial or other arrangements. Although 'settlement' can have a legal-dispute sense, the phrase plainly denotes an agreement connected to marriage and similar constructions exist cross-linguistically, so a B1 learner who knows both words would likely understand it.
Etymology
Marriage settlement comes from a time when families would 'settle' property before the marriage and make a formal settlement of money or land to protect the couple and their children. So today it means a formal 'agreement' made before marriage.