Definition

Noun: A marriage to a person considered to be of lower social status or class. The term implies a mismatch or an unsuitable union from the perspective of social hierarchy.

Usage

The word "mesalliance" is a formal, often historical term. It is used to describe a marriage that is viewed negatively because it crosses established social boundaries. The perspective is typically that of the family or social class considered superior.

Examples

• Their union was considered a mesalliance by his aristocratic family, who disapproved of her merchant background.
• The novel's plot revolves around the scandal of a mesalliance between a duke's daughter and a musician.
• Historians noted the king's mesalliance as a significant breach of royal protocol.

Advanced Usage

• The term can be used metaphorically in non-marital contexts to describe any partnership or alliance perceived as degrading or beneath one's status.
  • The celebrated author considered writing for the popular magazine a literary mesalliance.

Variants and Related Words

• Mésalliance: The original French spelling, often used interchangeably in English texts.
• Misalliance (noun): A more general term for an unsuitable alliance or marriage, though it lacks the specific connotation of social inferiority inherent in "mesalliance."

Synonyms

• Mismarriage
• Ill-assorted marriage
• Unequal match

Antonyms

• Suitable match
• Appropriate union

Notes

"Mesalliance" carries a strong connotation of social snobbery and is rooted in class-based societal structures. Its usage today often reflects a critical or historical viewpoint on such attitudes.

Noun

1. a marriage with a person of inferior social status