maiden name

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Maiden Name:

Definition: A "maiden name" is a woman's last name or surname before she gets married. It is the name she was given at birth or the name she used before changing it when she married.

Usage Instructions:

• You typically use "maiden name" when you are talking about a woman’s last name before she becomes married and possibly takes her husband's last name.
• It is used in contexts like forms, official documents, or discussions about family history.

Example Sentence:

• "When filling out the application, she was asked to provide her maiden name."

Advanced Usage:

• In legal documents or genealogy (the study of family history), it is important to use a woman's maiden name to trace her family lineage or ancestry accurately.

Word Variants:

• The term "maiden" can also refer to an unmarried woman or girl, but in this context, it specifically refers to her last name.

Different Meanings:

• "Maiden" can also mean "first" or "initial," such as in "maiden voyage," which refers to the first journey of a ship.

Synonyms:

• There are no direct synonyms for "maiden name," but related terms might include:
  • Birth name
  • Family name (before marriage)

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• While there are no specific idioms or phrasal verbs centered around "maiden name," you might hear phrases like "take someone's name" which means to adopt another person’s surname after marriage.

Summary:

In summary, a "maiden name" is an important part of a woman's identity before she gets married, and it can be useful in various situations, especially when discussing family backgrounds or filling out forms.

Academic

Noun

1. a woman's surname before marriage