noun

concubinage

kon-KYOO-bi-nij

Concubinage (noun) means the practice, recognised in some historical and legal systems, of a man and a woman living together in a lasting relationship that carries fewer rights than marriage. Example: “Roman law drew a clear line between marriage and concubinage.”

noun

formal The practice, recognised in some historical and legal systems, of a man and a woman living together in a lasting relationship that carries fewer rights than marriage.

"Roman law drew a clear line between marriage and concubinage."

"Under the old code, children born of concubinage could not inherit."

historical The state of being a concubine within such an arrangement.

"The novel traces her passage from concubinage to the position of principal wife."

How to Use Concubinage

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishAn old arrangement where a couple lived together without the full status of marriage.

When to use it

Formal, legal and historical writing.

Memory tip

The word names the arrangement; concubine names the person in it.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

cohabitation common-law marriage polygamy →

Common pairings

live in concubinage the practice of concubinage marriage and concubinage

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Roman law drew a clear line between marriage and _____.

Etymology

Through French from Latin concubina "concubine", from con- "with" and cubare "to lie".

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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cohabitation

Rhymes for concubinage

age wage cage page rage gage sage mage usage image stage adage

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between concubinage and marriage?

Both describe a settled union between two people, but marriage confers full legal status on the partners and their children, while concubinage historically conferred a lesser status or none at all. In systems that recognised it, concubinage was tolerated rather than celebrated, and inheritance rights were usually restricted.

Is concubinage still a legal term anywhere?

Some civil-law jurisdictions still use concubinage, or its local equivalent, for unmarried couples living together, sometimes with limited rights over property or social benefits. In everyday English the word is mostly historical.

Is concubinage the same as cohabitation?

Not quite. Cohabitation is the neutral modern term for any couple living together without marrying. Concubinage carries the extra sense of a formally recognised but subordinate status, and it usually appears in discussion of ancient, medieval or colonial societies.