Marital status refers to whether an individual is legally married or not, and, in many contexts, to the specific legal category of that marriage (e.g., single, married, separated, divorced, widowed). It is a formal designation used on official records, forms, and statistics to describe a person’s relationship status as recognized by law in a given jurisdiction. Key points:

• Legal definitions vary by country or region, but common categories include single (never married), married (including legally separated but not divorced), separated, divorced, and widowed. In some places, there is also a category for civil unions or domestic partnerships, and some jurisdictions treat long-term cohabitation differently for “de facto” or “common-law” status.
• The term is often used in government forms, tax documents, census surveys, and employment records to identify eligibility for certain benefits, obligations, or to collect demographic statistics.
• “Civil status” is closely related and is used interchangeably in many contexts, though the exact terminology and classifications can differ by jurisdiction.

If you’d like, specify the country or context (for example, taxation, social services, or census) and I can tailor the definition and the typical categories used there.