Definition

Noun: A married couple refers specifically to two people who are legally or formally united as spouses in a marriage. This term denotes the pair as a single social and legal unit formed through matrimony.

Usage

The term "married couple" is used to identify or describe two individuals in their capacity as spouses. It emphasizes their marital status as a pair. - It functions as a compound noun. The adjective "married" modifies the noun "couple" to specify the type of union. - It is typically used in formal, legal, and general descriptive contexts.

Examples

• The married couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with their family.
• The new policy offers benefits to any married couple employed by the company.
• They are a happy married couple who enjoy traveling together.

Advanced Usage

• "a married couple": The indefinite article is commonly used when referring to any such pair or an unspecified example.
  • The apartment is ideal for a married couple.
• "the married couple": The definite article is used when referring to a specific, known pair.
  • All eyes were on the married couple as they had their first dance.

Variants and Related Words

• Spouses (n): A more formal or legal term for the two people in a marriage. It can be used interchangeably with "married couple" in many contexts, though "spouses" focuses more on the individuals in their marital role.
• Husband and wife (n phrase): A traditional phrase specifying the gendered roles within a heterosexual married couple.
• Newlyweds (n): A married couple who have recently been married.

Synonyms

• Man and wife (traditional)
• Mr. and Mrs. [Surname]
• Partners (can be broader, but often implies a committed, marriage-like relationship)

Notes on Meaning

The core meaning is strictly the union of two people in marriage. It does not describe the quality of the relationship (e.g., happy, unhappy) but solely the formal status. The reference context example "a married couple without love" illustrates that the term defines the legal/social pairing, not the emotional state within it.

Noun

1. two people who are married to each other
   • his second marriage was happier than the first
   • a married couple without love