white marriage

English

Etymology

Calque of French mariage blanc. “White” is the traditional symbol of purity and therefore of virginity. It may also refer to the absence of hymenal blood on the couple’s sheets.

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

Noun

white marriage (plural white marriages)

1. (idiomatic) An unconsummated marriage.

Hyponyms

• Josephite marriage

Translations

unconsummated marriage

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 不同房的婚姻 (bù tóngfáng de hūnyīn) (lit. "unconsummated marriage"; no exact concept exists)

• Finnish: seksitön avioliitto
• French: mariage blanc (fr)
• Italian: matrimonio in bianco
• Polish: białe małżeństwo n
• Spanish: please add this translation if you can

See also

• marriage of convenience
• white wedding