solemnise

Solemnise is a verb that means to perform a ceremony with formalities or to confer solemnity on something. In general use, it refers to carrying out a formal or religious ceremony that marks an event as serious or binding. The term is common in Commonwealth English; American English typically uses solemnize.

Etymology traces the word to Middle English solennisen, from Old French solenniser, from Latin solemnizare, from solemnus meaning ceremonial or serious. The related noun forms are solemnisation or solemnization, and the adjective is solemn.

Usage in wedding contexts is central to the term. To solemnise a marriage means to perform the wedding ceremony and, depending on the jurisdiction, to confer its legal or religious validity. A couple may be solemnised by a recognized officiant in a civil or religious ceremony. Beyond marriage, solemnise can describe making any occasion or action formal and gravity-filled, such as solemnising an oath, a covenant, or a dedication.

Legal and cultural considerations vary by jurisdiction. In some places, the solemnisation of a marriage is a distinct act required to bind the union, separate from registration. In others, the ceremony itself is sufficient for validity. The distinction between ceremonial solemnisation and other steps in forming a legal or religious bond is a common point of reference in law and etiquette.

Spelling variants include solemnise and solemnisation in British Commonwealth usage, versus solemnize and solemnization in American English. Present participles follow the same pattern: solemnising/solemnising and solemnizing/solemnization.