wedlock

[ wed-lok ]

noun

1. the state of marriage; matrimony.

wedlock

/ ˈwɛdlɒk /

noun

1. the state of being married
2. born out of wedlock
   born when one's parents are not legally married

Word History and Origins

Origin of wedlock¹

before 1100; Middle English wedlok, Old English wedlāc literally, a pledging, equivalent to wed pledge ( wed ) + -lāc verbal noun suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of wedlock¹

Old English wedlāc, from wedd pledge + -lāc, suffix denoting activity, perhaps from lāc game, battle (related to Gothic laiks dance, Old Norse leikr )

Idioms and Phrases

see out of wedlock .

Example Sentences

But he was instead mired in scandal, including mounting debts and lawsuits and backlash from two children born out of wedlock.

From Los Angeles Times

He faced mounting costs for legal fees, spousal support and payments for children he fathered out of wedlock.

From Los Angeles Times

Catherine gave birth in an orphanage in Dublin and, because of attitudes at the time about children born out of wedlock, she was coerced into giving Gladys up for adoption.

From BBC

One of those stories came from a Trump building door attendant who had heard a false rumor that Trump had fathered a child out of wedlock; the other was from a former Playboy model who said she had had an affair with Trump.

From Seattle Times

Prosecutors allege that Trump was trying to bury other negative stories by having Cohen pay hush money to Daniels and having the National Enquirer pay hush money to McDougal and a former Trump Tower doorman who falsely claimed Trump had a child out of wedlock.

From Salon