Cohabitation is the fact or state of living together especially as partners in life, usually with the suggestion of sexual relations, according to Black’s Law Dictionary, Ninth Edition. It is the act of living together on grounds of emotional and physical intimate relationship and having a sexual relationship without being married.
Where two persons of opposite gender, for whatever reason (usually pregnancy) start living together and having sexual relations without conducting any form of marriage, be it customary or statutory, they cannot be regarded as married in the eyes of the law irrespective of how long they have been together. The best way to describe their relationship is mere cohabitation.
ALUKO ADEYEMI AND ASSOCIATES 