A newlywed is someone who has recently gotten married. The “newly wed” part of the word tells you exactly what it means: a person who has just had their wedding. Usually, couples are considered newlyweds for about the first year of marriage, though there's no official cutoff.

You'll often hear the word used in its plural form, newlyweds, since it typically refers to both people in the marriage together: “The newlyweds just returned from their honeymoon” or “My aunt and uncle are newlyweds.” The word carries a happy feeling, suggesting the excitement and adjustment of starting a new life together.

During this newlywed period, couples are figuring out how to share a home, blend their habits, and make decisions as a team. They might be learning that one person is a morning person while the other stays up late, or discovering whose turn it is to do the dishes. It's a time of adjustment, compromise, and lots of new experiences. When someone says “they're still newlyweds,” it can explain why a couple might seem especially affectionate or still working out their routines.