Living together with someone, especially in a casual or temporary way without being married.
From 'shack,' possibly derived from Mexican Spanish 'jacal' (a thatched hut), which entered English in the 1800s. The term originally referred to living in a rough dwelling and evolved to mean cohabiting.
This word became famous during the 1960s sexual revolution when it was considered scandalous—parents would gossip if their unmarried daughter was 'shacking up' with a boyfriend, but today it's just a casual way to describe living together!
Mid-20th century slang 'shacking up' carried moral judgment against cohabiting couples, particularly when applied to women. The term reinforced double standards about female sexuality and relationships.
Use 'cohabiting,' 'living together,' or 'partnering' as neutral descriptors without moral valence.
["cohabiting","living together","partnering"]
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