unmarried

/'ʌ'mærid/

Thân thiện

A young unmarried woman lives in a cozy apartment with her cat.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Not married: Describes a person who has never been legally married or whose marriage has ended and who has not remarried. It refers to the civil status of not having a spouse.
   • Pertaining to the state of not being married: Relating to the lifestyle, circumstances, or legal status of someone who is not married.

Usage

• The adjective "unmarried" is used to describe a person's marital status. It is neutral and factual.
• It typically comes before a noun (e.g., ) or after a linking verb like "be" (e.g., ).
• It is often used in formal, legal, or statistical contexts (e.g., census forms, official documents) but is also common in general speech.

Examples

• Before a noun:
  • The survey collected data from unmarried adults.
  • She is an unmarried mother of two.
• After a linking verb:
  • He remained unmarried his entire life.
  • Are you married or unmarried?

Advanced Usage

• "Unmarried" vs. "Single": While often used interchangeably, "single" can sometimes imply not being in a committed romantic relationship, whereas "unmarried" is a strict legal term. In many contexts, "single" is more common in casual conversation.
  • He's single and ready to mingle. (Focus on relationship availability)
  • Please state whether you are married, divorced, or unmarried. (Focus on legal status)
• "Unmarried couple": A term used for two people in a cohabiting relationship who are not legally married.
  • The law provides certain rights for unmarried couples.

Variants and Related Words

• Single (adj): Not married or not in a romantic relationship. (A common synonym, though nuances may differ.)
• Unwed (adj): Not married. (Somewhat old-fashioned or formal, often used in the context of parenthood: .)
• Bachelor (n): An unmarried man.
• Spinster (n): An unmarried woman, typically older. (This term is now often considered outdated and potentially offensive.)
• Divorced (adj): No longer married due to legal dissolution of a marriage. (This is a distinct status from "unmarried," though a divorced person is currently unmarried.)

Synonyms

• Single
• Unwed
• Unattached (can imply not in a serious relationship)

Antonyms

• Married
• Wedded

Related Phrases and Collocations

• Unmarried status: The condition of not being married.
  • He declared his unmarried status on the application.
• Unmarried partner: A person one lives with in a conjugal relationship without being married.
  • The form has a box for unmarried partner.
• Unmarried life: The lifestyle or experience of not being married.
  • She enjoyed her independence during her unmarried life.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. not married or related to the unmarried state
   • unmarried men and women
   • unmarried life
   • sex and the single girl
   • single parenthood
   • are you married or single?

Từ đồng nghĩa

• single