common-law marriage

Definition of "common-law marriage"
  1. A type of marriage recognized in some states where couples are considered legally married due to living together for an extended period while behaving as a married couple, and displaying an intention to be married
How to use "common-law marriage" in a sentence
  1. After living together and introducing each other as husband and wife for many years, they established a common-law marriage.
  2. Their common-law marriage gave them certain legal rights despite not having a marriage certificate.
  3. Even though they've never had a formal wedding ceremony, their extended cohabitation and intent to marry constitute a common-law marriage.

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