MARRIAGE

[noun] - a legally accepted relationship between a woman and a man in which they live as husband and wife, or the official ceremony which results in thisSally's parents have had a long and happy marriage. [C]Almost one in ten divorces occur within the first two years of marriage. [U]She went to live abroad after the break-up of her marriage/after her marriage broke up. [C]She has two daughters by her first marriage. [C]The couple had had an arranged marriage (= they had not chosen their husband/wife themselves).Their marriage (= marriage ceremony) took place in a church/registry office. [C]I can't find my marriage certificate (= document that shows two people are legally married).(figurative) The marriage of the two charities has not resulted in the benefits that had been predicted.See also marital; marry.(esp. humorous) If two people have a marriage made in heaven, they are very well suited to each other and their marriage is likely to be very happy and successful.(UK) A marriage bureau (US, UK also dating agency) is an organization which people who want to get married belong to so that they can be introduced to each other.A marriage of convenience is a marriage in which the partners have married, not because they love each other, but in order to obtain some benefit, such as the right to live in the other partner's country.His marriage of convenience to an American he hardly knew enabled him to get the green card which allows foreigners to work in the US.(figurative) They never liked each other and their business partnership was only a marriage of convenience.(UK and ANZ) Marriage guidance/(US and ANZ also) Marriage counseling is advice that is given by a trained person to people who are trying to find solutions to problems with their marriage.If we hadn't gone to see the marriage guidance counsellor we'd probably have got divorced.