Out of Wedlock

The very old word wedlock, meaning ‘the state of being married,’ is rarely heard today outside the idiom out of wedlock. The opposite phrase, in wedlock, is all but extinct. During the 1600s and beyond, wedlock was often used in other phrases, such as ‘fit for wedlock.’

Meaning of Idiom ‘Out of Wedlock’

Out of wedlock means not married. It usually refers to two people doing something together that is considered only proper for married couples. Most often, the idiom refers to a child being ‘born out of wedlock.’

Therefore, born out of wedlock means ‘born to parents who are not legally married to each other.

Living together and having sexual relations are also considered by some to be something people shouldn’t do ‘out of wedlock.’

Sentence Examples

“The singer has a son born out of wedlock.”

“The prince was not the successor to the throne because he was born out of wedlock, leaving it to his younger brother to become king.”

“His parents are very old-fashioned and were shocked to find out we were living together ‘out of wedlock’ as they call it.”

“Since last Sunday, I had sexual intercourse out of wedlock seven times.” — Don Jon (2013)

” Before we get started, I think you should know that, uh, Mark’s a bastard.” “Excuse me?” “I had him out of wedlock, so…” — 17 Again (2009)

“I thought the vampires killed Whistler’s family. They did. I was born later out of wedlock. When I came of age, I tracked my dad down, and I told him I wanted in.” — Blade: Trinity (2004)

“…who has publicly said that it poisons the minds of Americans, who, in addition, has told people sex out of wedlock is immoral, that they shouldn’t drink…” — The People vs. Larry Flynt (1997)

“This woman is a single welfare mother with two kids out of wedlock, a sordid sexual history…” — North Country (2005)

“After war, I ate rice hulls. And for 10 years I raised a child out of wedlock alone. This arrangement afforded me many opportunities for difficulty.” — King of the Hill (1997)

“If I had had a baby out of wedlock, my father would have taken me out back and shot me.” — The Wizard of Lies (2017)

“We feel it would be better for the child if you’d put him up for adoption. A child born out of wedlock is a bastard child. Would you have him go through life as an outcast, rejected and scorned by all decent members of society?” — The Magdalene Sisters (2002)

“The woman you thought was your mother was my sister. I had you when I was very young out of wedlock.” — Psycho II (1983)

“We both know it wasn’t her fault that she got pregnant out of wedlock, now.” — Serena (2014)

Origin

The idiom ‘in wedlock’ dates from the 1300s making it much older than ‘out of wedlock,’ which was first seen in print in 1675.

The word wedlock does not mean to be ‘locked into marriage’ as is often supposed. It comes from the Old English wedlac meaning ‘pledge-giving’ or ‘marriage vow.’

The word wed is familiar to modern English speakers as to wed, used as a verb, means to become married. Wed is a very old word from which we derive the word wedding. It goes all the way back to the Proto-German wadja, source of the old English word weddian. 1Ayto, John. Dictionary of Word Origins: The Histories of More Than 8000 English-Language Words. Arcade Publishing, 1990. The suffix -lac refers to “actions, proceedings, practice.” 2Harper, Douglas. “Etymology of wedlock.” Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/word/wedlock. Accessed 27 September, 2024.

Wedlac became Middle English wedlok (or wedlocke) probably through a process of folk etymology where lac became confused with lock. 3Harper, Douglas. “Etymology of wedlock.” Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/word/wedlock. Accessed 27 September, 2024.,4”wedlock.” Wiktionary. 13 Jun 2024, 17:50 UTC. 27 Sep 2024, 05:13 <https://en.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=wedlock&oldid=80233836>.

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