elopement

[ ih-lohp-muhnt ]

noun

1. an act or instance of running off secretly, especially to be married.
2. an act or instance of a patient or person in care leaving a hospital, care facility, or safe area independently without notifying anyone: wandering ( def 6 ).

   Nursing homes need strategies to cope with elopement.

3. a small wedding ceremony with few or no guests and often without a reception:

   The couple had a quiet elopement in Dublin with only their parents and an officiant present.

Other Words From

• non·e·lope·ment noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of elopement¹

First recorded in 1600–10; elope ( def ) + -ment ( def )

Example Sentences

Upon their return to their Brooklyn abode, they revealed the news to close friend and photographer Hunter Abrams, who took pictures of the pair in the wedding dresses they purchased at L.A.’s Dover Street Market before their unplanned elopement.

From Los Angeles Times

Ideally, I’d love the whole proper wedding weekend, 70-80 people, in some beautiful nature-y place in the U.S. rather than just a small elopement, but it also feels so hard to spend several thousands of dollars on a single weekend.

From Slate

Gerry and Theresa’s nuptials are neither a private affair, discreet elopement, nor intimate gathering.

From Slate

His therapists are working to address elopement or wandering that can be common in children with autism.

From Washington Times

His therapists are working to address elopement or wandering that can be common in children with autism.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• breakout
• departure
• desertion
• disappearance
• flight
• freedom
• liberation
• outbreak
• rescue
• withdrawal