banns

or bans

[ banz ]

noun

, (used with a plural verb)

1. notice of an intended marriage, given three times in the parish church of each of the betrothed.
2. any public announcement of a proposed marriage, either verbal or written and made in a church or by church officials.

banns

/ bænz /

plural noun

1. the public declaration of an intended marriage, usually formally announced on three successive Sundays in the parish churches of both the betrothed
2. forbid the banns
   to raise an objection to a marriage announced in this way

Word History and Origins

Origin of banns¹

1540–50; variant of bans, plural of ban ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of banns¹

C14: plural of bann proclamation; see ban ¹

Example Sentences

“I’m going to pack up my two kids and my dog and drive up with all my documents,” including their banns, Quebec’s required public announcement of an impending marriage.

From New York Times

A photograph of the wedding banns has been posted in several newspapers.

From BBC

The marriage banns, posted on a bulletin board in the town hall, included those for an auto-body painter and a cashier, a zinc roofer and his stay-at-home fiancée, and an optician and a midwife.

From The New Yorker

The minute the daffodils are out, so too are the wedding banns, with lovers lining up for the summer wedding, a froth of white lace, poached salmon and a sea of overpriced flowers.

From The Guardian

The executive order banns nearly all forms of travel to the country from seven majority-Muslim nations and halts the processing of refugees.

From Washington Times