Betrothed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Betrothed" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to refer to someone who is engaged to be married. Example: "She was betrothed to him for over a year before the wedding." Alternative expressions include "engaged" and "affianced."

✓ Grammatically correct

Encyclopedias

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He portrayed himself in 1493, just betrothed, holding sea holly (the betrothal flower) and with fashionable slashed sleeves; he painted himself, most famously, in 1500, gazing full-face at the viewer from a nimbus of long flowing hair (see the first illustration of this piece).

The Economist

It is unlikely that your betrothed will scarper on horseback, as Julia Roberts did in "Runaway Bride", and most insurers wouldn't cover that anyway.

The Economist

Survivors of self-burning often explain that they felt trapped in traditional, arranged marriages, which in some cases means they were betrothed at birth to cousins or tribal kinsmen.

The Economist

When she finds that her Albrecht is a poseur, actually betrothed to a princess, she goes mad and dies.

The Economist

Since the Spanish infanta Mariana, to whom Louis had been betrothed in 1721, was too young to produce a royal heir, Condé cancelled that engagement and married the King in September 1725 to the 21-year-old Maria Leszczyńska, daughter of a dethroned Polish king.

Encyclopedia Britannica

When the survivor entered Rome in triumph, his sister recognized among his trophies a cloak she had made for one of the Curiatii to whom she was betrothed.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Menshikov installed the young emperor in his own household and arranged for his daughter and Peter to become betrothed.

Encyclopedia Britannica

He attempted to strengthen his rulership through new court officials, and he twice contracted an important marriage alliance with members of the Salian dynasty, rulers of the Holy Roman Empire: he was betrothed to Conrad II's niece, who died before the marriage could be formalized, and married Henry III's daughter.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In 1721 Orléans betrothed Louis to the infanta Mariana, daughter of King Philip V of Spain.

Encyclopedia Britannica

During that period Amadeus' daughter Margherita was betrothed to Louis III of Anjou, pretender to the throne of Naples. Louis III died suddenly in 1434, and Amadeus briefly claimed Naples for Margherita but in the end abandoned the kingdom to Alfonso V of Aragon.

Encyclopedia Britannica

While still young he was betrothed to his cousin's daughter.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "betrothed" when you want to convey a formal or slightly archaic tone, often appropriate in historical or literary contexts. Ensure the subject is clearly understood as being engaged to be married.

Common error

Avoid using "betrothed" to describe someone who is already married. "Betrothed" specifically refers to the state of being engaged or promised to marry in the future, not the present.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "betrothed" is as an adjective, describing the state of being formally engaged or promised to be married. It can also function as a noun, referring to the person to whom one is "betrothed". Ludwig AI indicates this usage is grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Encyclopedias

45%

News & Media

40%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "betrothed" functions primarily as an adjective to describe someone formally engaged. While grammatically correct and widely understood, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, its usage leans towards formal or historical contexts. Semantically related phrases include "engaged to be married" and "affianced". When using "betrothed", ensure clarity about the engagement status and avoid confusing it with current marital status. It appears frequently in encyclopedias and news media, affirming its place in both informative and journalistic writing. While "betrothed" isn't incorrect, it's less common than its alternatives, making it a stylistic choice that should align with the tone and audience of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Engaged to be married

Emphasizes the action of getting engaged and the future state of being married.

Affianced

A formal and somewhat archaic synonym for "betrothed".

Promised in marriage

Highlights the promise aspect of being "betrothed".

Spoken for

An informal way of saying someone is "betrothed" or unavailable due to a commitment.

Intended

Focuses on the intention of marriage without explicitly stating the "betrothed" status.

Set to wed

Indicates a future marriage that has been planned or scheduled.

Soon-to-be-married

Emphasizes the imminent nature of the marriage.

Plighted

Implies a solemn promise or pledge to marry.

Troth-plighted

An old-fashioned term indicating a pledged promise of marriage.

Bound by oath to marry

Highlights the legal or formal commitment to marriage.

FAQs

How to use "betrothed" in a sentence?

"Betrothed" can be used to describe someone who is engaged to be married. For example, "She was "betrothed" to the prince for a year before the wedding".

What's the difference between "engaged" and "betrothed"?

While both terms describe someone promised in marriage, "betrothed" often carries a more formal or archaic connotation than "engaged". "Engaged" is the more common and contemporary term.

What can I say instead of "betrothed"?

You can use alternatives like "engaged to be married", "affianced", or "promised in marriage" depending on the context.

Is "betrothed" still used in modern English?

Yes, but it's less common than "engaged". "Betrothed" is often used in historical contexts or when a more formal or old-fashioned tone is desired.