noun
legal marriage; de jure marriage
A marriage recognized under the law, as opposed to a common-law or de facto union. Often used in legal or sociological contexts.
日本では、法律婚をしていないカップルも増えている。
In Japan, the number of couples who are not in a legal marriage is also increasing.
事実婚 refers to a de facto marriage or common-law marriage, where a couple lives as husband and wife without legal registration, contrasting with 法律婚 which is a legally registered marriage.
Compound of 法律 (law) and 婚 (marriage). The term is a modern coinage used to distinguish legally recognized marriages from other forms of partnership.