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Definition of wedlock

wedlock

/ˈwɛd.lɑːk/
wed · lock
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wedlock Lexical Profile

wedlock Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

The state or legal status of being married.

Example

"Historical census records carefully noted whether children were born in or out of wedlock."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for wedlock
Antonyms
View all antonyms for wedlock

Word Nuance & Usage

In contemporary English, 'wedlock' is most frequently used in legal, religious, or formal contexts, particularly in the set phrases 'born in wedlock' or 'born out of wedlock' to indicate whether a child's parents were legally married at the time of birth.

• Rhymes for wedlock

• Nearby Words

wedgelike
wedgie
wedgy
wedlock
wee
weed
weeder

Word Origin & Etymology

From Old English 'wedlac' (a pledge-offering or marriage vow), a compound of 'wedd' (pledge or covenant) and '-lac', an archaic suffix denoting action or practice that later became associated by folk etymology with the noun 'lock'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Wedlock. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/wedlock
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