Marriage, also called
matrimony or
wedlock, is a socially or ritually recognized union or legal contract between
spouses that establishes rights and obligations between them, between them and their children, and between them and their in-laws. The definition of marriage varies according to different cultures, but it is principally an
institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually
sexual, are acknowledged. In some cultures, marriage is recommended or considered to be compulsory
before pursuing any sexual activity. When defined broadly, marriage is considered a
cultural universal.