premarital

[ pree-mar-i-tl ]

adjective

1. preceding marriage.

premarital

/ priːˈmærɪtəl /

adjective

1. (esp of sexual relations) occurring before marriage Compare extramarital

Word History and Origins

Origin of premarital¹

First recorded in 1885–90; pre- + marital

Example Sentences

Armed with medical records, the Texas government will be able to unleash all manner of hell on women for perceived transgressions against the "moral" order, such as having premarital sex or ending unhappy relationships.

From Salon

The movie also represents premarital pregnancy as salvation rather than sin, and scenes were consequently cut for its post-Production Code rerelease in the late 1930s.

From New York Times

Not because of a lack of physical attraction — both claim to be very hot for each other — or religious or moral objection to premarital sex.

From Los Angeles Times

The loud and malapropism-prone Archie also touched on subjects such as atheism, the virtues of premarital celibacy, the breakdown of law and order, long hair on boys and short skirts on girls.

From Los Angeles Times

Even two decades ago, however, researchers at the Guttmacher Institute found that premarital sex was "nearly universal," to the point where 95% of adults participate before age 44.

From Salon