Origin: French suffix -age
Marriage has 5 different meanings across 1 category:
the state of being a married couple voluntarily joined for life (or until divorce)
"a long and happy marriage"
"God bless this union"
two people who are married to each other
"his second marriage was happier than the first"
"a married couple without love"
the act of marrying; the nuptial ceremony
"their marriage was conducted in the chapel"
The state of being married.
"After five years of dating, they finally decided to make their relationship official by getting into marriage."
In plain English: Marriage is when two people decide to be each other's partner and family for life.
"They celebrated their marriage with a large party at the beach."
Usage: Use marriage to describe the legal union or social status of two people who are wed. It refers specifically to the ongoing condition of being spouses rather than the wedding ceremony itself.
The word "marriage" entered Middle English from Old French and ultimately traces back to Latin mas, meaning "male." Although it is formed by combining the verb "marry" with the suffix "-age," its original root specifically referred to a male person or something masculine.