newlywed

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "newlywed" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a married couple who have recently been married. For example: The newlywed couple went to Hawaii for their honeymoon.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The shows implode around Ben Miller as a newlywed who, when staying with his wife's family, suffers every possible social embarrassment: from killing pets and relatives to almost accidentally having sex with his mother in law.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

ON Tuesday, the Supreme Court told Florida it must reconsider whether Freddie Lee Hall, a man with an IQ in the 70s who killed a pregnant newlywed in 1978, is intellectually able enough to be executed.

The Economist

She subsequently starred in the tearjerker The Vow (2012), as a newlywed who develops amnesia; in Terrence Malick's atmospheric drama To the Wonder (2012); and in About Time (2013), an introspective romantic dramedy that delved into the effects of time travel.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Fontaine then starred in Alfred Hitchcock's Rebecca (1940), in which she played the beleaguered successor to the idolized first wife of Laurence Olivier's character, and Suspicion (1941), in which she played a newlywed who begins to suspect her husband (Grant) of murder.

Encyclopedia Britannica

One of the early comedies to centre on women Goldie Hawn played a widowed newlywed who impulsively joins the army it was a huge hit, and Meyers earned an Academy Award nomination for the screenplay.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Her next film was Suspicion, in which she played a meek newlywed who thinks her husband, played by Cary Grant, is plotting her murder.

Independent

Peter DuBois directs the play, in which a newlywed couple try their hand at matchmaking.

The New Yorker

This pattern of reasoning was exemplified by Brittany Maynard, a twenty-nine-year-old newlywed who moved to Oregon last year so that she could die on her own terms rather than allowing her brain cancer to take its course.

The New Yorker

(Cave, the most ingenuous of confessional songwriters, was recently married, though it's fair to say that you will have heard happier music sung by a newlywed).

The New Yorker

On March 16 , 1988 Nosreen Abdul Qadeer, a sixteen-year-old newlywed in the Kurdish town of Halabja, was helping her mother prepare lunch for guests when she heard a series of explosions.

The New Yorker

Mr. Desfor, a widower, was more or less a newlywed.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a couple, consider the context. Use "newlywed" to emphasize the recent nature of their marriage, especially when it's relevant to the story or situation. For example, "The newlywed couple bought a house."

Common error

Avoid using "newlywed" as a verb. It functions as an adjective or a noun, not an action. Incorrect: "They newlywedded last summer." Correct: "They became newlyweds last summer."

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "newlywed" is to act as an adjective describing someone who has recently married, or as a noun referring to a person in that state. Ludwig shows it's used in contexts like describing characters in movies or real-life couples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Encyclopedias

11%

Science

40%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "newlywed" functions effectively as both an adjective and a noun to describe someone recently married, as affirmed by Ludwig. It's a common term in news, encyclopedias, and other varied contexts, making it versatile for diverse writing styles. While grammatically sound, it’s essential to avoid using it as a verb. When looking for alternatives, "newly married couple" or "recently married" are good options. Pay attention to the context to use it effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

newly married couple

Replaces the single word with a more descriptive phrase highlighting the couple aspect.

recently married pair

Similar to "newly married couple" but uses 'pair' instead of 'couple'.

freshly wedded pair

Synonymous to the QUERY, implies recent wedding.

just married

A more concise and informal way to express the same idea.

newly married individuals

Formal alternative emphasizing the individuals involved.

newly married duo

Uses "duo" as a synonym for couple, which works well especially if you want to stress partnership.

bride and groom

Refers specifically to the individuals getting married.

newly established family

Focuses on the creation of a new family unit.

newly united couple

Highlights the union of two people in marriage.

new marital status

Focuses on the state of being newly married rather than the people.

FAQs

How is "newlywed" used in a sentence?

"Newlywed" can be used as an adjective describing a person or couple recently married, or as a noun referring to such a person. For instance, "The "newly married couple" is planning a honeymoon," or "She is a "newlywed"."

Is "newlywed" one word or two?

"Newlywed" is typically written as one word, especially when used as an adjective or noun. The two-word version "newly wed" is less common but not incorrect.

What can I say instead of "newlywed"?

Alternatives include "recently married", "just married", or "newly married couple", depending on whether you're referring to an individual or a couple. The best choice depends on the context and desired level of formality.

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

"Newlywed" is a noun or adjective referring to a person who has recently married. "Newly married" is an adjective phrase that describes the state of being recently married. You might say "They are a "newlywed" couple" or "They are "newly married"".