starter marriage
1 of 1noun/ˈstɑrtər ˈmɛrɪdʒ/
Forms:starter marriages
1
a relatively short-lived first marriage that serves as a learning experience for one or both partners
The phrase is thought to have originated in the United States in the early 20th century, as a way to describe a first marriage that is relatively short-lived and ends in divorce. It can be used to describe a pattern where individuals have multiple marriages over their lifetime, with their first one being seen as the first experience.
- After college, Nicole and John got married, but it turned out to be a starter marriage as they soon realized they wanted different things in life and decided to go their separate ways.
- For Alex, his starter marriage served as a valuable learning experience, teaching him valuable lessons about communication, compromise, and the kind of partner he wanted to be with for the long term.