late marriage

Late marriage refers to marrying at an older age than is typical or expected within a given culture or era.

What counts as "late" varies widely—in societies where people traditionally marry in their early twenties, marrying at thirty might qualify.

The term often carries implicit judgment about timing, though attitudes have shifted as education and career priorities delay marriage in many countries: Late marriage is increasingly common among professionals.

Demographers use the term neutrally to describe population trends.