marriage of convenience

English edit

Etymology edit

Calque of French mariage de convenance.

Noun edit

marriage of convenience (plural marriages of convenience)

  1. A marriage motivated by some reason other than love; especially one conducted to obtain entry or residence rights in a country.
    • 1988 April 23, Adam Starchild, “Personal Advertisement”, in Gay Community News, page 14:
      Widely published author and business consultant would like a marriage of convenience with a woman who is an Irish or Austrian citizen. You get legal resident status in U.S. (and eligibility for student aid), and I get eligibility for prison furloughs plus the citizenship of a neutral country in a few years so I can start a new life elsewhere.

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