n · academic
cohabitation
UK/kəʊˌhæbɪˈteɪʃən/US/ˌkoʊˌhæbɪˈteɪʃən/co·hab·i·TA·tion
The state of living together and having a sexual relationship without being married.
Examples
“Cohabitation before marriage is a common subject in sociological research.”
“The law is changing in some countries to recognise cohabitation for inheritance.”
“Many young couples favour cohabitation as a step before making a long-term commitment.”
Band 8 sentence
“Debates about cohabitation often revolve around its social implications, such as effects on marriage stability and child well‑being.”
Collocations
- cohabitation before marriage
- recognise cohabitation
Word family
Common mistakes
translate as 'cohabitate' or use wrong verb form 'to cohabitate'→use 'cohabit' (verb) or 'cohabitation' (noun)
confuse it with 'living apart'→cohabitation = living together unmarried
Say it for a higher band
5living together→6living with someone→7+cohabitation
Synonyms
living together
Easily confused
living together
“Many couples are living together before deciding whether to marry.”
Related words
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In Family & Relationships
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