noun
betrothal
bih-TROH-thuhl
noun
1
A formal agreement or promise between two people to marry in the future; an engagement.
"Their betrothal was announced at a family dinner months before the wedding."
"In some cultures, a betrothal is arranged by the families rather than the couple themselves."
How to Use Betrothal
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn old-fashioned or formal word for being engaged to be married.
When to use it
Sounds more formal or historical than the everyday word "engagement."
Common pairings
announce a betrothal
a betrothal ceremony
Word Forms
betrothals plural
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Their _____ was announced at a family dinner months before the wedding.
Etymology
From betroth ("to promise in marriage") plus the noun-forming suffix -al, as in "arrival" or "refusal."