What does remarried mean?
Remarried means married again after an earlier marriage has ended, usually because of divorce or death. The word is the past tense and past participle of remarry and can also serve adjectivally before a noun, as in “her remarried husband.” It is neutral in tone and common in biographies, news reports, legal and historical writing, and ordinary conversation. Remarriage can describe both the act of marrying again and the resulting relationship; remarried usually describes the person who has done so. Its prefix re-, meaning “again,” makes the renewed status explicit rather than merely stating that someone is married. The word is especially useful when the earlier marriage matters, since “married” alone does not reveal whether it is a first marriage or a later one. Context can also affect tone: in matters involving inheritance, pensions, or family relationships, remarriage may carry legal or social implications beyond the simple fact of a new wedding.
The past tense and past participle of remarry: to marry again after a previous marriage has ended.
"She remarried after the annulment of her first marriage."
This is the standard form used with a subject such as “he,” “she,” or “they.”
Having married again after a previous marriage ended.
"Her remarried father spoke briefly at the ceremony."
Typically used before a noun to describe a person or family relationship.
Remarried packs a whole second beginning into one word: the prefix re- turns marriage into marriage again.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does remarried come from?
Remarry combines the prefix re-, meaning “again,” with marry, which entered English through Old French marier from Latin maritare, “to marry.” The prefixed verb developed to mean to marry again after an earlier marriage had ended. Related English forms such as marriage and marital continue the same Latin marital root.
How remarried is actually used
Remarried is neutral in register and common in everyday conversation, biographies, news reports, and historical or legal writing. Before a noun, it functions as an adjective, as in “her remarried father.”
Easily confused with remarried
Married means having entered into a marriage and does not indicate whether it is a first marriage or a later one, whereas remarried specifically means married again.