Not married; single or without a spouse. Describes someone who has never been married or whose marriage has ended through divorce or death.
Formed by adding the negative prefix 'un-' to 'married'. 'Married' comes from Old French 'marier', from Latin 'maritare' meaning 'to wed', related to 'maritus' meaning 'husband'.
This word reflects how marriage has been considered such a fundamental social state that we define its absence with a negative prefix. It's interesting how 'unmarried' carries different connotations than 'single' - the former often emphasizes the absence of marriage, while the latter suggests independence.
Unmarried status carries asymmetrical social weight by gender. Women's unmarried status was historically pathologized ('spinster,' 'old maid') while men's carried less stigma; this gendered language persists in social and legal contexts.
Use as neutral descriptor only. Avoid gendered alternatives like 'spinster' or 'bachelor girl.' Use 'single' for broader neutrality when status is relevant.
["single","unpartnered","solo"]
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