What does extramarital mean?
"Extramarital" is an adjective describing something that occurs outside the bounds of an existing marriage, most commonly applied to sexual relationships between a married person and someone who is not their spouse. It combines the Latin prefix "extra-" (outside) with "marital" (relating to marriage), literally meaning "outside of marriage." The word is characteristic of formal, journalistic, legal, and sociological writing: news reports speak of "extramarital affairs," courts may consider "extramarital conduct" in divorce cases, and researchers study "extramarital sex." In casual conversation, speakers usually prefer blunter terms such as "affair" or "cheating." The word itself is descriptive rather than overtly condemnatory, though the behavior it denotes is widely regarded as a breach of marital fidelity. A related, older usage applies to children conceived outside marriage, though modern usage tends to favor phrases like "born out of wedlock." Understanding "extramarital" is useful for reading news, literature, and legal texts where a precise, neutral term for infidelity is required.
adjectiveRelating to or involving sexual intercourse between a married person and someone other than their spouse.
- Involving sexual relations with someone other than one's spouse; adulterous.
"The novel explores the emotional fallout of an extramarital affair."
"The senator's extramarital affair dominated headlines for weeks."
"In many jurisdictions, evidence of extramarital conduct can still influence divorce proceedings."
Despite describing one of humanity's oldest transgressions, "extramarital" only entered common English use in the mid-20th century — a clinical coinage for a very old sin.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of extramarital
"Extramarital" is formed from the Latin-derived prefix "extra-" meaning "outside" or "beyond," combined with "marital," which traces to the Latin "maritus" (husband) via "maritimus," relating to marriage. The word emerged as a formal compound in English relatively recently, becoming widespread in the 20th century alongside similar formations such as "premarital" and "extramarital sex." Its roots are shared with other "marit-" words like "matrimony" (from Latin "matrimonium") and "marriage" itself, all ultimately connected to concepts of matrimony and the marital bond.
How extramarital is actually used
The word carries a formal, often journalistic or legal register; in everyday speech, people more often say "an affair" or "cheating." It is frequently used euphemistically in news reporting. It is typically applied to relationships or sexual activity, and by extension to children born of such relationships ("extramarital child," now less common than "child born out of wedlock").
Easily confused with extramarital
"Premarital" refers to things occurring before marriage (as in premarital counseling), while "extramarital" refers to things occurring outside an existing marriage.