Matrimony is a formal noun referring to the state or ceremony of marriage, typically used in legal, religious, or ceremonial contexts. It denotes the union of two people in matrimony, often implying lifelong commitment and social recognition. The term carries a traditional, sometimes ceremonial register, and is less common in everyday casual speech than simply saying marriage.
"The couple exchanged vows and entered into matrimony in a quiet ceremony."
"Throughout history, matrimony was often arranged for political or economic alliances."
"They celebrated their matrimony with a family gathering and a formal reception."
"The document outlines the terms of matrimony under the jurisdiction of the church."
Matrimony derives from Old French matrimoine via Latin matrimonium, formed from matrimon-, ‘marriage, wedlock’, and -ium, a Latin noun ending. The root matr- stems from Latin mater, ‘mother’, not directly, but the word historically connected to the act of forming a family. The earliest Latin form matrimonium appears in late Latin, then Old French as matrimoine/ matriomnie, before entering Middle English as matrimony. Over centuries, the term carried religious and civil connotations; during medieval and early modern periods it was often used in legal and ecclesiastical contexts to describe the sacred bond of marriage. By the 16th–18th centuries, matrimony appeared more commonly in literature and formal discourse, retaining its ceremonial overtones while gradually appearing in broader, rhetorical usage. Today the word retains its traditional register, though it can appear in formal writing, hymns, legal texts, and literary passages describing marriage or its rites. First known use traces to late Latin and Old French sources, with the modern English term stabilizing by the early modern period.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Matrimony" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Matrimony"
-ony sounds
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Pronounce as /ˈmætrɪˌmoʊni/ in US and /ˈmætrɪˌməʊni/ in UK, AU similar to UK. Stress on the first syllable, secondary stress on the third syllable: ma-TRI-mo-ny with a clear /oʊ/ (US) or /əʊ/ (UK/AU) in the penultimate syllable. Start with /m/ lips closed, then /æ/ as in cat, keep /tr/ tightly connected, then /ɪ/ in the second syllable, and end with /moʊni/ or /məʊni/. Think “MAT-ri-MO-ny,” with a light secondary beat on -ri- and a long final -ni.
Common errors: misplacing the stress (putting emphasis on the wrong syllable), and slurring the /tr/ cluster so it sounds like a single consonant. Also, the final -mony can be shortened to -men-ee or mispronounced as -moh-nee. Correct by: (1) maintaining clear /t/ with a light /r/ after /m/; (2) holding the /oʊ/ or /əʊ/ in the penultimate syllable; (3) ensuring the final -ny uses a clean /i/ vowel, not a schwa.
In US, the middle vowel is /ɪ/ and the final is /oʊni/, with non-rhotic tendencies minimal in careful speech. UK typically uses /ˈmætrɪˌməʊni/ with a clearer /əʊ/ and mild non-rhoticity; AU is similar to UK, often with a slightly flatter /ɪ/ and a more centralized /əʊ/ in some speakers. Overall, stress placement remains the same, but the penultimate vowel quality shifts from /ɪ/ to /ə/ or /ɒ/ depending on speaker, while the final syllable keeps /ni/.
The difficulty lies in the two consecutive unstressed syllables around a strong initial onset and the precise /tr/ cluster after /mæ/. Speakers often reduce the middle syllable or merge /tr/ and /ɪ/, creating /ˈmætriˌmoʊni/ or /ˈmætrənəni/. The key challenge is maintaining the proper length of the penultimate /oʊ/ (or /əʊ/) vowel and not weakening the second syllable’s /ɪ/ to a schwa. Practicing with minimal pairs helps reinforce the full syllables.
A distinctive feature is the strong onset consonant sequence /mæt/ followed by /rɑ?/ in some rapid speech; the /tr/ cluster should be released clearly rather than blended into a single /tʃr/ or /dr/. Additionally, the final -mony is not reduced; keep the /ni/ syllable with a short to mid vowel quality rather than merging into /ni/ as in ‘mini’. Emphasize the clean contrast between /mæ/ and /trɪ/ and avoid vowel reduction in the second syllable.
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