just married

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "just married" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to indicate that a couple has recently completed their marriage ceremony. Example: "The couple drove away in a decorated car with a sign that read 'Just Married'." Alternative expressions include "newlyweds" and "recently wed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Just Married?

Harvard University

He's just married.

The New York Times

Leigh has just married a knifemaker; she….

The New Yorker

Hadn't he just married Elizabeth Taylor?

The New Yorker

And it's not just married types.

Independent

Josh, just married, weighs in.

The Guardian - Music

J.F.K. and Jacqueline Bouvier had just married.

The New York Times

Just married, they moved here from a tiny apartment nearby.

The New York Times

But you know she just married a lovely young man.

The New Yorker

Can I befriend the woman who just married my ex?

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Just-married Vice President Arlene Villarin assisted her.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "just married" as a post-positive adjective or a label to indicate that a couple has completed their ceremony within a very short timeframe, typically ranging from hours to a few months.

Common error

Avoid using "just married" when you mean "only married" (e.g. "they are just married, not parents"). While grammatically possible, it can create ambiguity with the temporal meaning of the phrase. In such cases, use "only married" to ensure clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "just married" functions primarily as an adjective phrase or a resultative participle construction. It consists of the adverb "just", indicating a very recent time, and the past participle "married", which describes a state. In the examples provided by Ludwig, it often appears as a predicative adjective following the verb "to be" or as an appositive.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Wiki

30%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Science

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "just married" is a highly frequent and grammatically correct expression in English. Data from Ludwig shows that it is used across a variety of high-quality domains, from elite journalism to practical how-to guides. It primarily functions to highlight a recent change in marital status. While it is often seen in celebratory contexts—such as on signs behind a car—it also plays a critical role in instructional content regarding legal name changes and insurance updates. Ludwig AI suggests that while synonyms like newlyweds or "recently wed" are available, "just married" remains the most direct and versatile choice for both speech and writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

newly married

Provides a more descriptive adjective form often used in formal writing

newlyweds

Uses a noun to refer to the couple rather than an adjective phrase describing their state

recently wed

Slightly more formal and suitable for journalistic or academic reporting

just tied the knot

Uses a common idiom to convey the same meaning in a more casual or celebratory way

freshly married

Adds an informal, descriptive emphasis on the immediacy of the event

just hitched

A colloquial and informal alternative popular in North American English

newly joined

A formal, almost liturgical alternative emphasizing the union

post-wedding

A temporal adjective that refers to the period immediately following the ceremony

wedded bliss

Focuses on the state of happiness following the marriage rather than just the timing

entered into marriage

A highly formal and legalistic way to describe the recent action

FAQs

How do I use "just married" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a couple's current state, such as "The "just married" couple left the church", or as a status indicator like "They were "just married" last week".

What is the difference between "just married" and "newly married"?

While both mean the same thing, "newly married" is often perceived as more formal, whereas "just married" is the standard choice for celebratory signs and casual conversation.

Can "just married" be used as a noun?

No, it is an adjective phrase. If you need a noun to refer to the people, use "newlyweds" instead.

Is it "just married" or "just-married"?

Use a hyphen when the phrase acts as a compound adjective before a noun, such as "the "just-married couple"". When it follows a verb, no hyphen is needed, as in "they were "just married"".