Definition

Noun: - Payment from groom to bride's family: A sum of money, property, or other valuable consideration given by a prospective groom or his family to the family of his intended bride, as part of a marriage arrangement in certain societies.

Usage

The term is used in anthropological, sociological, and cultural contexts to describe a specific marital custom. It is a formal, neutral term. - The bride price was negotiated between the two families before the wedding. - In some cultures, the bride price is seen as compensation to the bride's family for the loss of her labor.

Advanced Usage

• Anthropological Context: The concept is often discussed in contrast to dowry (property or money brought by a bride to her husband) and is analyzed for its social and economic functions within kinship systems.
• Legal and Social Debates: In modern contexts, the practice is sometimes critiqued or regulated, with discussions around its impact on gender equality and women's rights.

Variants and Related Words

• Bridewealth: A closely related anthropological term, often used synonymously with "bride price," though some scholars make subtle distinctions based on the nature of the goods transferred.
• Lobola (noun): A term used specifically in Southern Africa for the bride price custom.
• Dowry (noun): Property or money brought by a bride to her husband upon marriage. (This is a related but distinct concept, representing a flow of wealth in the opposite direction.)

Synonyms

• Marriage payment
• Progeny price (a less common, more technical synonym)

Notes on Meaning

• The practice is distinct from a simple gift; it is often a formal, obligatory part of the marriage process.
• It should not be conflated with dowry. The key difference is the direction of the transfer: a goes to the bride's family, while a comes from the bride's family.
• The term is culturally specific and is not a universal feature of marriage.

Noun

1. money or property given (in some societies) by the bridegroom to the family of his bride