mésalliance

[ mey-zuh-lahy-uh ns, mey-zal-ee-uh ns; French mey-zal-yahns ]

/ ˌmeɪ zəˈlaɪ əns, meɪˈzæl i əns; French meɪ zalˈyɑ̃s /

a marriage with someone who is considered socially inferior; misalliance.

Origin of mésalliance

From French, dating back to 1775–85; see origin at mis-¹, alliance

mésalliance misalliance

After that mesalliance her father never would see her again.

The Parisians, Complete |Edward Bulwer-Lytton
It seems a pity that a man of his position and attainments should stumble upon such a mesalliance.

Floyd Grandon's Honor |Amanda Minnie Douglas
In fact, she has the curious feeling that I and Summit would suffer by a mesalliance.

The Ego Machine |Henry Kuttner
It was a mesalliance of a sort that pricked him tenderly; it savored grossly of bargain and sale.

The Quest of the Silver Fleece |W. E. B. Du Bois

If he decides to marry into them, she can be of great use in saving him from a mesalliance.

The Kentons |William Dean Howells

mésalliance

/ (mɛˈzælɪəns, French mezaljɑ̃s) /

marriage with a person of lower social status

C18: from French: misalliance