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civil union
noun
: the legal status that ensures to same-sex couples specified rights and responsibilities of married couples
Examples of civil union in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Since 2003, the Polish parliament has discussed legalizing civil unions at least five times—but each time, the proposals have foundered for want of government support.
—Marta Figlerowicz, Foreign Affairs, 7 Aug. 2019
Mary and Romain entered into a civil union in 2018, and celebrated their nuptials with a wedding ceremony the following year.
—Erin Clements, Peoplemag, 24 Sep. 2024
In 2018, Mary entered a civil union with her husband Romain Bonnet, celebrating their nuptials with a wedding ceremony the following year.
—Erin Clements, Peoplemag, 14 Sep. 2024
Liechtenstein legalized civil unions in a 2011 referendum.
—Cameron Pugh, The Christian Science Monitor, 22 July 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
1992, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near civil union
Cite this Entry
“Civil union.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/civil%20union. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.
Legal Definition
civil union
noun
: the legal status that ensures to same-sex couples specified rights and responsibilities of married couples
Note: Following Obergefell v. Hodges, 576 U.S. ___ (2015), civil unions in some states were converted to marriages by operation of law, or could be converted by action of the couple.
More from Merriam-Webster on civil union
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for civil union
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about civil union
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