bridal

1 of 2

noun

brid·​al ˈbrī-dᵊl How to pronounce bridal (audio)
: a marriage festival or ceremony

bridal

2 of 2

adjective

1
: of or relating to a bride or a wedding : nuptial
2
: intended for a newly married couple
a bridal suite

Did you know?

A secondary meaning of Old English ealu, the ancestor of Modern English ale, was “feast, banquet,” at which the drinking of ale was a prominent activity. There were a number of these feasts and banquets that survived into the 19th century, but the oldest and best-established was the bride-ale, or wedding feast, attested in Old English as brydealu. In Middle English the ale half of the word had lost its stress and was associated with the noun suffix –al (as in funeral) and the adjective suffix (as in parental). By the 18^th^ century, bridal was perceived primarily as an adjective, as it is today.

Examples of bridal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Among the looks are retro hot-pink mini dress, black feather mini and a ballet bridal moment Selena Gomez is proving herself to be not only a musical powerhouse but also a fashion icon. Jordan Greene, Peoplemag, 23 Feb. 2024 Taylor-Joy, 27, channeled avant-garde bridal wear in a custom Dior look complete with a sheer white cotton organdy cape with a hood. Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 15 Feb. 2024 Homeowners love to book these spaces for birthday parties, bridal and baby showers and more — enjoying the convenience of parties in a great event space without the work of entertaining in their homes. Kansas City Star, 30 Jan. 2024 The rapper contrasted her bridal white with an all-black ensemble comprised of a pleated double-breasted jacket, leather gloves, sunglasses, and Prada loafers. Hanna Lustig, Glamour, 2 Feb. 2024 In 2021, Anne Hathaway married her husband, Adam Shulman, wearing a bespoke Valentino bridal gown. Daniel Rodgers, Vogue, 4 Dec. 2023 Without further ado, find Vogue’s pick of the best bridal looks from the spring 2024 couture shows in Paris, below—and don’t forget to follow the Vogue Weddings Pinterest to see all of the best bridal inspiration from the runway. Taylor Anderson, Vogue, 26 Jan. 2024 Greek bridal couples also ate cheesecake at their weddings. Lisa Waterman Gray, Kansas City Star, 24 Jan. 2024 From her first film, Selena, in 1997 to her most recent flick, Shotgun Wedding, in 2022, the superstar, 54, has an array of bridal looks ranging including everything from a simple lace look to an elaborate ball gown. Andrea Lavinthal, Peoplemag, 14 Jan. 2024
Adjective
The actress accessorized the look with a bridal veil, a midi-length white suede and faux fur coat. Jordan Greene, Peoplemag, 4 Mar. 2024 Millie Bobby Brown has been showing off her bridal style since announcing her engagement to fiancé Jake Bongiovi in April 2023. Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 22 Feb. 2024 The centuries-old fabric, made by looping, twisting or knitting thread into various open-weave patterns, is more likely to evoke images of quaint cottage curtains or your grandmother’s bridal veil. Emilia Petrarca, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2024 Harriet Galbraith had bridal photos taken in 1959 in Washington, D.C. Saleen Martin, USA TODAY, 27 Jan. 2024 After a five-month search, Alex went to a bridal salon with a friend and hated the experience. Shelby Wax, Vogue, 20 Feb. 2024 Later a celebrated bridal designer herself, Ms. Wang was then the design director for Ralph Lauren women’s accessories and at-home wear. Alex Williams, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2024 Soon enough, however, Asma opens an afterschool program, Malak opens an art gallery, and Yasmina restarts her bridal services business. Andrew Leon Hanna, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024 The Chicago Med alum, 39, dazzled in a recent bridal photoshoot for the cover and main feature of the story of Sophisticated Weddings, which hits the stands mid-March. Jordan Greene, Peoplemag, 8 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bridal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English bridale, from Old English brȳdealu, from brȳd + ealu ale — more at ale

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bridal was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near bridal

Cite this Entry

“Bridal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bridal. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

bridal

1 of 2 noun
brid·​al ˈbrīd-ᵊl How to pronounce bridal (audio)

bridal

2 of 2 adjective
: of or relating to a bride or a wedding

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