adj
Uncommon
marital
MA-rih-tuhl
Marital (adj) means relating to marriage or the relationship between spouses. Example: “They sought counselling to work through their marital problems.”
adj
1
Relating to marriage or the relationship between spouses.
"They sought counselling to work through their marital problems."
"Marital status must be stated on the form."
"The couple kept their marital disagreements private and never argued in front of guests."
How to use marital
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo do with marriage.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "martial" (relating to war or the military, as in "martial arts") — the two are spelled almost identically but mean completely different things.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
marital status
marital problems
marital bliss
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They sought counselling to work through their _____ problems.
Etymology
From Latin marītālis, from marītus ("husband").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for marital
See all rhymes for marital →Frequently asked questions
What does “marital” mean?
The word “marital” means relating to marriage or the relationship between spouses. In plain terms, to do with marriage.
How do you pronounce “marital”?
“Marital” is pronounced MA-rih-tuhl (/ˈmæɹɪtəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “marital” in a sentence?
Here is “marital” used in a sentence: “They sought counselling to work through their marital problems.”
What part of speech is “marital”?
“Marital” is an adjective.
Where does the word “marital” come from?
The word “marital” comes from Latin. From Latin marītālis, from marītus ("husband").
Is “marital” a common word?
“Marital” is an uncommon word in modern English.
What is the difference between marital and marriage as an adjective?
Marital and marriage can both function as adjectives relating to being married, as in 'marital status' or 'marriage license'. Marital is the more formal, dedicated adjective form, while marriage is a noun frequently used attributively before another noun.
What does marital status mean on a form?
Marital status refers to whether a person is single, married, divorced, widowed, or otherwise, describing their legal relationship to a spouse. It appears on forms because it relates directly to marriage and the relationship between spouses.
What is the difference between marital and conjugal?
Both marital and conjugal relate to marriage and the relationship between spouses, but conjugal is more often used specifically in legal or formal contexts concerning marital rights and intimacy. Marital is the broader, more everyday term.
