Single vs. Unmarried — What's the Difference?
By Maham Liaqat & Fiza Rafique — Updated on April 1, 2024
Single typically refers to someone not involved in a romantic relationship, while unmarried denotes a legal status of not being in a marriage.
Difference Between Single and Unmarried
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Single is a term often used to describe a person who is not currently in a romantic relationship, regardless of their previous relationship history or marital status. This status focuses more on the social aspect of an individual's life, highlighting their availability for romantic pursuits. Unmarried, on the other hand, strictly refers to the legal status of an individual who has never been married or is no longer married, including those who are divorced or widowed.
While "single" can imply a broader spectrum of social statuses, including those who are casually dating, "unmarried" is purely a legal distinction. This means someone can identify as single even if they are dating non-exclusively, whereas unmarried exclusively refers to the absence of a legal marital bond.
In certain contexts, being single can denote independence and the choice to focus on personal growth, career, or other relationships without the commitment to a romantic partner. Meanwhile, being unmarried might emphasize the absence of a legal or formal acknowledgment of a partnership, which can have implications for legal rights, benefits, and social recognition.
Identifying as single can carry various connotations based on cultural, social, and individual beliefs about relationships and independence. In contrast, being unmarried is often a neutral term that simply states one's legal marital status without implying any particular lifestyle or choice.
In some legal and financial contexts, being unmarried can affect one’s eligibility for certain benefits, taxes, or legal rights, which are typically related to marital status. Conversely, identifying as single may not have direct legal implications but can influence social interactions and personal identity.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Not in a romantic relationship.
Legally not married.
Focus
Social and relational status.
Legal marital status.
Connotations
Can imply availability or independence.
Neutral, relates to legal documentation.
Legal Implications
Generally none, focuses on social status.
Affects legal rights, benefits, and documentation.
Relationship Status
May or may not be dating; not in a committed relationship.
Includes divorced or widowed individuals.
Compare with Definitions
Single
Independently operating or functioning.
He opened a single-person photography studio.
Unmarried
Regarding a person without a matrimonial bond.
Benefits for unmarried partners can vary by company policy.
Single
Not currently in a romantic relationship.
She enjoys being single and exploring her own interests.
Unmarried
Legally not joined in marriage.
They've lived together for years but remain unmarried.
Single
One in number; not part of a pair or multiples.
She prefers a single scoop of ice cream.
Unmarried
Eligible for marriage under the law.
Unmarried individuals often have different tax filing options.
Single
Focusing on self-development or career without romantic distractions.
Being single allows her to travel freely for work.
Unmarried
Focusing on individuals' legal status rather than their social engagements.
Unmarried status is required on certain legal documents.
Single
Available for romantic or social engagements.
He's single and ready to mingle at the party.
Unmarried
Not having a spouse due to divorce or death.
He's been unmarried since the divorce two years ago.
Single
Only one; not one of several
The kingdom was ruled over by a single family
A single red rose
Unmarried
Not married; having no spouse.
Single
Consisting of one part
The studio was a single large room
Unmarried
One who is not married.
Single
Free from duplicity or deceit; ingenuous
A pure and single heart
Unmarried
Having no husband or wife.
Single
An individual person or thing rather than part of a pair or a group.
Unmarried
An unmarried person.
Single
A hit for one run.
Single
(especially in tennis and badminton) a game or competition for individual players, not pairs or teams.
Single
A system of change-ringing in which one pair of bells changes places at each round.
Single
Choose someone or something from a group for special treatment
One newspaper was singled out for criticism
Single
Thin out (seedlings or saplings)
Hand hoes are used for singling roots
Single
Reduce (a railway track) to a single line
The South Western line was singled west of Salisbury
Single
Hit a single
Cohen singled to centre
Single
Not accompanied by another or others; solitary.
Single
Consisting of one part, aspect, or section
A single thickness.
A single serving.
Single
Having the same application for all; uniform
A single moral code for all.
Single
Consisting of one in number
She had but a single thought, which was to escape.
Single
Not divided; unbroken
A single slab of ice.
Single
Separate from others; individual and distinct
Every single child will receive a gift.
Single
Having individual opponents; involving two individuals only
Single combat.
Single
Honest; undisguised
A single adoration.
Single
Wholly attentive
You must judge the contest with a single eye.
Single
Designed to accommodate one person or thing
A single bed.
Single
Not married or involved in a romantic relationship
Once he knew she was single, he asked her to go out.
Single
Relating to a state of being unmarried or uninvolved in a romantic relationship
Enjoys the single life.
Single
(Botany) Having only one rank or row of petals
A single flower.
Single
One that is separate and individual.
Single
Something capable of carrying, moving, or holding one person or thing at a time, as a bed or a hotel room.
Single
A person who is not married or involved in a romantic relationship.
Single
Singles Such persons considered as a group
A bar for singles.
Single
A one-dollar bill.
Single
A phonograph record, especially a forty-five, having one song on each side.
Single
A song on one of these sides.
Single
A song, often from a full-length album or compact disc, that is released for airplay.
Single
(Baseball) A hit enabling the batter to reach first base. Also called one-bagger, one-base hit.
Single
A hit for one run in cricket.
Single
A golf match between two players.
Single
Often singles A tennis or badminton match between two players.
Single
Singles A competition in which individuals compete against each other, as in rowing or figure skating.
Single
To cause (a base runner) to score or advance by hitting a single
Singled him to second.
Single
To cause the scoring of (a run) by hitting a single.
Single
To hit a single.
Single
Not accompanied by anything else; one in number.
Can you give me a single reason not to leave right now?
The vase contained a single long-stemmed rose.
Single
Not divided in parts.
The potatoes left the spoon and landed in a single big lump on the plate.
Single
Designed for the use of only one.
A single room
Single
Performed by one person, or one on each side.
A single combat
Single
Not married, and (in modern times) not dating or without a significant other.
Forms often ask if a person is single, married, divorced, or widowed. In this context, a person who is dating someone but who has never married puts "single".
Josh put down that he was a single male on the dating website.
Single
(botany) Having only one rank or row of petals.
Single
(obsolete) Simple and honest; sincere, without deceit.
Single
Uncompounded; pure; unmixed.
Single
(obsolete) Simple; foolish; weak; silly.
Single
(music) A 45 RPM vinyl record with one song on side A and one on side B.
Single
(music) A popular song released and sold (on any format) nominally on its own though usually having at least one extra track.
The Offspring released four singles from their most recent album.
Single
One who is not married or does not have a romantic partner.
He went to the party, hoping to meet some friendly singles there.
Single
(cricket) A score of one run.
Single
(baseball) A hit in baseball where the batter advances to first base.
Single
(dominoes) A tile that has a different value (i.e. number of pips) at each end.
Single
A bill valued at $1.
I don't have any singles, so you'll have to make change.
Single
(UK) A one-way ticket.
Single
(Canadian football) A score of one point, awarded when a kicked ball is dead within the non-kicking team's end zone or has exited that end zone.
Single
A game with one player on each side, as in tennis.
Single
One of the reeled filaments of silk, twisted without doubling to give them firmness.
Single
A handful of gleaned grain.
Single
A floating-point number having half the precision of a double-precision value.
Single
(film) A shot of only one character.
Single
A single cigarette.
Single
Synonym of single-driver.
Single
To identify or select one member of a group from the others; generally used with out, either to single out or to single (something) out.
Eddie singled out his favorite marble from the bag.
Yvonne always wondered why Ernest had singled her out of the group of giggling girls she hung around with.
Single
(baseball) To get a hit that advances the batter exactly one base.
Pedro singled in the bottom of the eighth inning, which, if converted to a run, would put the team back into contention.
Single
(agriculture) To thin out.
Single
(of a horse) To take the irregular gait called singlefoot.
Single
To sequester; to withdraw; to retire.
Single
To take alone, or one by one; to single out.
Single
(transitive) To reduce (a railway) to single track.
Single
One only, as distinguished from more than one; consisting of one alone; individual; separate; as, a single star.
No single man is born with a right of controlling the opinions of all the rest.
Single
Alone; having no companion.
Who single hast maintained,Against revolted multitudes, the causeOf truth.
Single
Hence, unmarried; as, a single man or woman.
Grows, lives, and dies in single blessedness.
Single chose to live, and shunned to wed.
Single
Not doubled, twisted together, or combined with others; as, a single thread; a single strand of a rope.
Single
Performed by one person, or one on each side; as, a single combat.
These shifts refuted, answer thy appellant, . . . Who now defles thee thrice ti single fight.
Single
Uncompounded; pure; unmixed.
Simple ideas are opposed to complex, and single to compound.
Single
Not deceitful or artful; honest; sincere.
I speak it with a single heart.
Single
Simple; not wise; weak; silly.
He utters such single matter in so infantly a voice.
Single
To sequester; to withdraw; to retire.
An agent singling itself from consorts.
Single
To take alone, or one by one.
Men . . . commendable when they are singled.
Single
To take the irrregular gait called single-foot; - said of a horse. See Single-foot.
Many very fleet horses, when overdriven, adopt a disagreeable gait, which seems to be a cross between a pace and a trot, in which the two legs of one side are raised almost but not quite, simultaneously. Such horses are said to single, or to be single-footed.
Single
A unit; one; as, to score a single.
Single
The reeled filaments of silk, twisted without doubling to give them firmness.
Single
A handful of gleaned grain.
Single
A game with but one player on each side; - usually in the plural.
Single
A hit by a batter which enables him to reach first base only.
Single
A base hit on which the batter stops safely at first base
Single
The smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number;
He has the one but will need a two and three to go with it
They had lunch at one
Single
Hit a one-base hit
Single
Existing alone or consisting of one entity or part or aspect or individual;
Upon the hill stood a single tower
Had but a single thought which was to escape
A single survivor
A single serving
A single lens
A single thickness
Single
Used of flowers having usually only one row or whorl of petals;
Single chrysanthemums resemble daisies and may have more than one row of petals
Single
Characteristic of or meant for a single person or thing;
An individual serving
Separate rooms
Single occupancy
A single bed
Single
Having uniform application;
A single legal code for all
Single
Not divided among or brought to bear on more than one object or objective;
Judging a contest with a single eye
A single devotion to duty
Undivided affection
Gained their exclusive attention
Single
Involved two individuals;
Single combat
Single
Individual and distinct;
Pegged down each separate branch to the earth
A gift for every single child
Common Curiosities
What does it mean to be single?
Being single means not being in a romantic relationship.
Can someone be single and unmarried at the same time?
Yes, someone can be both single and unmarried, indicating they are not in a romantic relationship and not legally married.
Is there a difference between being single and being unmarried?
Yes, being single focuses on one's relationship status, while being unmarried is about one's legal marital status.
How does being single affect social interactions?
Being single may influence social interactions and perceptions, as it implies availability for romantic or social engagements.
How do relationship preferences affect the choice between being single or unmarried?
Individual relationship preferences, such as the desire for independence or non-traditional relationships, can influence whether one identifies as single or focuses on their unmarried status.
What does unmarried mean?
Unmarried refers to someone who is not currently married, including those who have never been married or are divorced or widowed.
Can you be unmarried but not single?
Yes, someone can be unmarried but in a romantic relationship, indicating they are not legally married but not available for romantic pursuits.
Are there legal benefits to being unmarried?
Legal benefits of being unmarried vary by jurisdiction and can include different tax filings or eligibility for certain social benefits.
Can being single or unmarried impact one's financial situation?
Yes, both can have financial implications, such as eligibility for certain benefits or tax considerations.
What are the implications of being unmarried?
Being unmarried can affect legal rights, benefits, and documentation.
How does society view single vs. unmarried individuals?
Social views on being single vs. unmarried vary widely, often influenced by cultural, societal, and individual beliefs about relationships and independence.
Does being unmarried mean the same as divorced?
Unmarried includes divorced individuals, but it also encompasses those who have never been married or are widowed.
What societal changes have influenced the perceptions of being single or unmarried?
Societal changes, including greater emphasis on individualism, career, and personal fulfillment, have influenced more positive perceptions of being single or unmarried.
Why do some choose to remain single or unmarried?
Individuals may choose to remain single or unmarried for personal reasons, including career focus, independence, or personal preferences.
Is it common to be single and unmarried in today's society?
Yes, it is increasingly common as societal norms evolve and more people prioritize personal growth and career over immediate marriage.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
