What does unmarried mean?
Unmarried means that a person has no spouse or is not legally or otherwise married. The word is standard in British and American English and can describe people of any age, although it is especially common in discussions of family, partnerships, law, and social statistics. It is more explicit than single, which may refer either to marital status or to the absence of a romantic relationship. Unmarried can also function attributively, as in unmarried partner or unmarried parent, and it is often used in legal, administrative, and biographical contexts. Historically, the adjective combines the negative prefix un- with married. Although the expression may sound straightforward, choosing it can clarify that marital status, rather than an unspecified relationship status, is being discussed. It is also more neutral and precise than an informal alternative when accuracy about a person's legal or personal circumstances matters.
adjectiveNot married or having no spouse.
- Not married or having no spouse.
"They have remained unmarried for more than a decade."
"Her unmarried years gave her a valuable sense of independence."
"The application asks whether the applicant is currently unmarried."
Single can describe your relationship status; unmarried states your marital status with unmistakable clarity.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does unmarried come from?
The English adjective unmarried was formed by adding the negative prefix un- to married, meaning “not married.” The base married comes through French mar(i)é, ultimately from Latin maritare, “to marry,” which is related to maritus, “a married man.” Related English forms such as marriage, marry, marital, and intermarry preserve this wider Latin family.
How unmarried is actually used
The term is standard in both formal and informal contexts. It can describe anyone who is not married, including a widowed or divorced person, and does not by itself indicate whether the person is currently in a relationship.
Easily confused with unmarried
Unmarried means not married, whereas unmarred means not damaged or spoiled.