marital
MA-rih-tul
/ˈmær.ɪ.təl/
Relating to marriage or the relationship of a married couple.
The standard, most common adjective for anything related to marriage, from 'marital status' to 'marital problems'.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'maritalis', from 'maritus', meaning 'husband'. While 'matrimony' historically focused on the mother's role, 'marital' focused on the husband's role.
Word relationships
- matrimonial: Matrimonial is slightly more formal and often used in legal property contexts.
- conjugal: Conjugal is more academic or clinical.
- extramarital: Occurring outside of the marriage.
- premarital: Occurring before the marriage.
Commonly confused with
- martial: Martial relates to war (like martial arts); marital relates to marriage.
Collocations
- marital status
- marital bliss
- marital discord
- marital assets
Example sentences
- "Please indicate your marital status by checking the appropriate box: single, married, or divorced." Filling out a formal form.
- "The couple sought marital counseling to help improve their communication." Discussing relationship health.
Memory hook
Marital = Marriage-al. Don't confuse 'marital' with 'martial' (war).
When not to use
Avoid in very poetic or romantic contexts where 'conjugal' or 'connubial' might fit better.
Fun facts
- The common misspelling 'martial' instead of 'marital' is one of the most frequent typos in legal documents.
Explore more words
extramarital, nuptial, martial, unfaithful, affinal, infidelity
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