1. property settled on a wife to be enjoyed after her husband’s death
Usage: legal; historical

Examples

• The wealthy merchant arranged a generous jointure for his bride.
• Her jointure included the manor house and surrounding lands.
• The marriage contract specified the exact terms of the jointure.
• She lived comfortably on her jointure after becoming a widow.
• The lawyer explained the difference between dower and jointure.
• His estate was divided between his heirs and his wife’s jointure.