What does maritally mean?
Maritally is an adverb meaning “in relation to marriage.” It is used when describing or assessing the marital relationship, especially its legal, social, or practical dimensions. For example, a statement about a couple being maritally separated concerns the status and organization of their marriage, not necessarily the personal character of either partner. The word is formal and considerably less common than the adjective marital, so it usually appears in legal, academic, or broadly descriptive writing. It can qualify terms such as discordant, stable, blissful, or separate, but those combinations should be used only where they accurately describe the context. Maritally is useful when an author wants to focus specifically on marriage as an institution or relationship rather than on a spouse’s feelings, conduct, or personal qualities.
adverbIn a way relating to marriage or the marital relationship.
- In or with respect to marriage or the marital relationship.
"The couple remained maritally committed despite living apart for several years."
"Their marriage was maritally sound, though they faced significant practical difficulties."
"The court considered whether the parties had been living maritally separate."
Maritally belongs to a small family of precise words that distinguish matters of marriage from the personal lives of married people.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does maritally come from?
The word was formed in English by adding the adverbial suffix -ly to marital. Marital comes through French from Latin maritalis, an adjective derived from maritus, meaning “married” or “husband.” Related English words include matrimonial and matrimony, which reflect the same broad Latin marital vocabulary associated with marriage. The adverb maritally developed as a specialized way of expressing a relationship to marriage.
Related word forms
How maritally is actually used
Relatively formal and uncommon in everyday speech. It is most often used in legal, sociological, or descriptive contexts.