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Phrases
out of wedlock
: with the natural parents not legally married to each other
Examples of wedlock in a Sentence
joined the happy couple in holy wedlock
Recent Examples on the Web
Women brought the victims to her, babies born out of wedlock, perhaps one too many for a household or the mother too young.
—Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 6 Dec. 2024
But he was instead mired in scandal, including mounting debts and lawsuits and backlash from two children born out of wedlock.
—Laura J. Nelson, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2024
Her father lost a leg in World War I, her mother was born out of wedlock, and her grandmother once labored in a workhouse for the poor.
—Robert D. McFadden, New York Times, 25 Nov. 2024
That’s key because being born out of wedlock back then meant he was not allowed to go to the university, and therefore he doesn’t get spoiled by academic silos.
—Marco Della Cava, USA TODAY, 18 Nov. 2024
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Word History
Etymology
Middle English wedlok, from Old English wedlāc marriage bond, from wedd pledge + -lāc, suffix denoting activity
First Known Use
13th century, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of wedlock was
in the 13th century
Phrases Containing wedlock
Articles Related to wedlock
Dictionary Entries Near wedlock
Cite this Entry
“Wedlock.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wedlock. Accessed 25 Dec. 2024.
Kids Definition
wedlock
noun
wed·lock
ˈwed-ˌläk
: the state of being married
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