Meaning of concumbinage

Concubinage refers to a relationship in which a man and a woman live together and engage in a sexual partnership without being legally married. Historically, it often involved a man maintaining a secondary relationship with a woman who had fewer rights than a wife, sometimes supported financially by the man. While concubinage has been recognized in various cultures, it is often associated with social and legal implications that differ from formal marriage. In contemporary contexts, the term is less commonly used, as cohabitation and non-marital relationships have become more accepted.