noun

cohabitation

koh-hab-ih-TAY-shun/ˌkəʊˌhæbɪˈteɪʃn/

Living together, especially as unmarried romantic partners.

Some couples choose cohabitation instead of getting married right away.

Living together, especially as partners without being married: a similar-aged romantic couple sharing an established bedroom, personal storage, and an everyday household routine.

Etymology

coLatintogether

+habitLatinto dwell

+ationLatinaction or state

The pieces express the state of dwelling together. That general meaning developed a more specific use for partners sharing a home and living as a married couple without being married.

In context

Prof. Sam Vaknin39:40

cohabitation increases the divorce rate premarital cohabitation if you live with someone before you get married

Narcissism - Quo Vadis? (with Anwesh Satpathy)

More examples

Cohabitation gives them a chance to share everyday responsibilities.
They discuss money and household chores before beginning cohabitation.
Attitudes toward cohabitation vary among families and communities.

Forms

cohabit verb — Live together, especially as unmarried romantic partners.

Similar words

living together: An everyday alternative that can also describe nonromantic arrangements.