cohabit

[ koh-hab-it ]

verb (used without object)

1. to live together as if married, usually without legal or religious sanction.
2. to live together in an intimate relationship.
3. to dwell with another or share the same place, as different species of animals.

cohabit

/ kəʊˈhæbɪt /

verb

1. intr to live together as husband and wife, esp without being married

Derived Forms

• ˌcohabiˈtee, noun

Other Words From

• co·habit·ant co·habit·er noun
• co·habi·tation noun
• nonco·habi·tation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of cohabit¹

1520–30; < Late Latin cohabitāre, equivalent to co- co- + habitāre to have possession, abide (frequentative of habēre to have, own)

Word History and Origins

Origin of cohabit¹

C16: via Late Latin, from Latin co- together + habitāre to live

Example Sentences

Data show “nontraditional” families — those made up of single parents, single adults, cohabiting couples and stepfamilies — now outnumber “traditional” nuclear families in the United States.

From Los Angeles Times

He testified that the couple had been married for 20 years and were cohabiting “under the same roof” but were living separate lives then and dating other people.

From Los Angeles Times

Last year, UK law changed to afford cohabiting couples the same right.

From BBC

"It almost felt like a pressure to go back into cohabiting after having had my own space. That almost felt like stepping into something new and unknown again."

From BBC

The federal agency said an annual survey of family living arrangements found the tally of children under age 18 who lived with cohabiting parents jumped from 2.2 million in 2007 to 3.2 million this year.

From Washington Times