civil union
noun
: the legal status that ensures to same-sex couples specified rights and responsibilities of married couples
Examples of civil union in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In 2018, Mary entered a civil union with her husband Romain Bonnet, celebrating their nuptials with a wedding ceremony the following year.
—
Erin Clements, Peoplemag, 14 Sep. 2024
Liechtenstein legalized civil unions in a 2011 referendum.
—Cameron Pugh, The Christian Science Monitor, 22 July 2024
Iceland, for example, allowed gay civil unions back in 1996.
—Foreign Affairs, 6 Dec. 2013
One of the things that the administration was thinking of doing was making people who had civil unions dissolve them, so that would have taken some time.
—Solcyré Burga, TIME, 17 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for civil union 
Erin Clements, Peoplemag, 14 Sep. 2024
Liechtenstein legalized civil unions in a 2011 referendum.
—Cameron Pugh, The Christian Science Monitor, 22 July 2024
Iceland, for example, allowed gay civil unions back in 1996.
—Foreign Affairs, 6 Dec. 2013
One of the things that the administration was thinking of doing was making people who had civil unions dissolve them, so that would have taken some time.
—Solcyré Burga, TIME, 17 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for civil union
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'civil union.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near civil union
Cite this Entry
“Civil union.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/civil%20union. Accessed 25 Sep. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share