CIVIL UNION

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does civil union mean? 

• CIVIL UNION (noun)
  The noun CIVIL UNION has 1 sense:

1. a voluntary union for life (or until divorce) of adult parties of the same sex

  Familiarity information: CIVIL UNION used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CIVIL UNION (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A voluntary union for life (or until divorce) of adult parties of the same sex

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Context example:

parties to a civil union have all the same benefits, protections, and responsibilities under Vermont law as spouses in a marriage

Hypernyms ("civil union" is a kind of...):

marital status (the condition of being married or unmarried)

Domain category:

jurisprudence; law (the collection of rules imposed by authority)