Relationships Key Terms

Adultery

Voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and a person who is not their spouse. Having an affair with someone who is not your married partner.

Divorce

A divorce is a formal ending of a marriage. It's more permanent than a separation and involves a legal process. If you get a divorce, that means the marriage is officially over.

Cohabitation

An arrangement where people who are not married, usually couples, live together. They are often involved in a romantic or sexually intimate relationship on a long-term or permanent basis.

Commitment

A sense of dedication to someone or something. For example, making a promise to someone or something with wedding vows.

Contraception

A method or technique used to prevent pregnancy. This may be in the form of drugs or contraceptive devices.

Gender equality

Equality between women and men. It refers to the equal rights, responsibilities and opportunities of women and men and girls and boys.

Responsibilities

These are the actions or duties a person is expected to carry out. For example, Christians have a responsibility to love God.

Roles

Patterns of behaviour that are representative of a person’s social status.