remarriage
A marriage that happens after a previous marriage has ended.
Remarriage is when someone marries again after their previous marriage has ended, either through divorce or the death of their spouse. After a divorce, both people are free to find new partners and potentially remarry if they choose to. After a spouse dies, the surviving husband or wife may eventually feel ready to remarry and build a new life with someone else.
Remarriage can create what's called a blended family when one or both new spouses have children from their previous marriages. These families can be complicated at first: children might feel uncertain about a new stepparent, or step-siblings might need time to adjust to living together. But many blended families grow close over time as everyone learns to care for and support each other.
The word can also describe the act itself: “The remarriage took place two years after the divorce” or “She's planning her remarriage for next spring.”
Throughout history and across cultures, attitudes toward remarriage have varied widely. Some societies encouraged widows and widowers to remarry quickly, while others discouraged it. Today, remarriage is common and accepted in most places, though every family navigates it differently.