A more thorough explanation:

A marriage license is a legal document issued by a government agency, usually a county clerk, that allows a couple to get married. The requirements to obtain a marriage license vary by state, but typically include filling out an application, providing valid identification, and paying a fee. The license is valid for a certain period of time, usually between one month and one year, and must be obtained before the couple can get married.

Marriage licenses are only available to certain individuals, typically those in heterosexual or homosexual relationships between consenting adults. For example, someone cannot obtain a marriage license to marry an animal.

Historically, marriage licenses have used gender-specific terms like "bride" and "groom" to describe the spouses. However, since the Supreme Court's decision to legalize same-sex marriage in 2015, gender-neutral licenses have become more common.

• John and Jane want to get married. They go to the county clerk's office, fill out an application, provide their identification, and pay the fee. The clerk issues them a marriage license, which they must have before they can get married.
• Tom wants to marry his dog. He cannot obtain a marriage license because it is not legal to marry animals.
• After the Supreme Court's decision to legalize same-sex marriage, many states began issuing gender-neutral marriage licenses that do not use gender-specific terms like "bride" and "groom."

The examples illustrate the definition of a marriage license by showing how it is obtained, who can obtain it, and how it has evolved over time. The first example shows the process of obtaining a marriage license, while the second example demonstrates that not everyone can obtain one. The third example highlights the changing language used on marriage licenses in response to legal developments.