betrothal

/bɪˈtrəʊðl/ (bre, ipa) · /bɪˈtrəʊðl/ (ame, ipa) · /bi-ˈtrō-t͟həl How to pronounce betrothal (audio) -ˈtrȯ- How to pronounce betrothal (audio) -thəl,  bē-/ (ame, mw)

betrothal — noun

1. an official agreement that two people will marry each other in the future

1.名詞C2
釋義

an official agreement that two people will marry each other in the future

例句

Lucas announced his betrothal to Beatrix during the family dinner.

collocation: announce a betrothal

The newspaper printed a short notice of the couple's betrothal.

同義詞
  • engagement

    the normal modern everyday word for an agreement to marry

  • affiance

    very formal and uncommon; often found in legal or literary writing

  • espousal

    literary and old-fashioned; more often seen in historical style

用法筆記

Common in formal writing, religious contexts, and historical accounts rather than everyday conversation. In ordinary modern English, people usually say engagement instead.

常見錯誤

❌Their betrothal took place in the church with vows and rings.
✅Their wedding took place in the church with vows and rings.
💡A betrothal is the agreement to marry, not the marriage ceremony itself.
❌They announced their betrothal after ten years of marriage.
✅They announced their betrothal before getting married.
💡A betrothal happens before the wedding, not after marriage.