Prenups

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An agreement made before marriage that outlines how assets will be handled in case of divorce or separation; a legal document designed to protect the financial interests of one or both parties in a marriage; a contract that stipulates conditions regarding property division and support in the event of marital dissolution
2. A formal arrangement established prior to entering into a marriage, detailing financial rights and obligations; a protective measure that can help specify terms for asset management, alimony, or other economic matters; a consensual legal pact that aims to minimize disputes over finances should the relationship end
3. A legal contract signed by two individuals before they get married, specifying property rights and financial arrangements; a way to safeguard assets owned prior to marriage and outline responsibilities in the case of separation; a preemptive strategy to address potential financial issues that may arise after divorce

Etymology: "Prenups" is the plural of "prenup," a clipping of "prenuptial," which is itself built from the Latin prefix "prae-" meaning "before" and "nuptialis," the adjective from "nuptiae," meaning "wedding." The clipped form drops the back half of the longer adjective and keeps only the first syllable and a shortened ending, a pattern common in everyday speech for long words used often. The plural form simply means more than one such agreement, and the noun takes the regular English "-s" ending. Its base, "prenup," is the shortened version that became the everyday term, so the longer adjective survives mainly in formal or legal writing.

Synonyms: prenuptial agreements, marital contracts