Common-law marriage

noun

noun ·Rare ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A state of marriage, or legal recognition similar to that of marriage, enjoyed by a couple who have not undergone an official marriage ceremony, but instead based on the duration of cohabitation or other practical characteristics of the relationship. countable, uncountable
  2. 2
    a marriage relationship created by agreement and cohabitation rather than by ceremony wordnet