recently married
They are a recently married couple enjoying their honeymoon.
They are a newly married pair on their first vacation together as spouses.
having been married for a short period of time
The recently married couple moved into their first home together.
The newly married pair started their life in a shared residence.
At the party, we celebrated with a few recently married friends.
At the gathering, we honored several friends who had wed not long ago.
Describes a state of marriage that began recently, typically within the past year or less.
Collocations
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Collocation Tip
Pair 'recently married' with nouns like 'couple,' 'life,' or 'home' to describe early marital experiences. Avoid using it for long-term marriages.
Gold Rule
Temporal Accuracy
Use 'recently married' only for marriages that occurred in the near past (e.g., within the last year). For longer durations, use 'long-married' or specify the time frame (e.g., 'married for five years').
Word Origin
The phrase combines 'recent' (from Latin 'recens', meaning 'fresh' or 'new') with 'married' (past participle of 'marry', from Old French 'marier', derived from Latin 'maritare', meaning 'to wed'). The compound emerged in English by the late 19th century to describe couples in the early phase of marriage.
Usage Notes
Commonly used in social contexts to describe couples who have recently wed. Often appears in invitations, articles, or casual conversation. The phrase emphasizes the novelty of the marital status rather than the duration.