Why did unmarried couples 'live in sin', and who still says it?
In short
'Living in sin' means living together as a couple without being married. The phrase is recorded from 1838, while 'cohabitation' in this sense goes back to the 1540s. Dictionaries now label it old-fashioned: in England and Wales, about nine in ten couples who married in 2022 had already lived together.
What the full article will cover
- What does 'living in sin' mean?
- When did the phrase first appear?
- Where does the religious idea behind it come from?
- Why does it sound old-fashioned today?
- What words do Britons use instead?
Frequently asked questions
- Is 'living in sin' offensive?
- What is the legal term for living together unmarried?
- Do churches still use the phrase?
- What does 'common-law wife' mean?
Sources
- merriam-webster.com — https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/live%20in%20sin
- etymonline.com — https://www.etymonline.com/word/cohabit
- ons.gov.uk — https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/marriagecohabitationandcivilpartnerships/bulletins/marriagesinenglandandwalesprovisional/2021and2022
General information, not legal or religious advice.