betrothed

American  

[bih-trohthd, -trawtht] / bɪˈtroʊðd, -ˈtrɔθt /

adjective

1. engaged to be married.

   She is betrothed to that young lieutenant.

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noun

1. the person to whom one is engaged.

   He introduced us to his betrothed.

betrothed British  

/ bɪˈtrəʊðd /

adjective

1. engaged to be married

   he was betrothed to her

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noun

1. the person to whom one is engaged; fiancé or fiancée

Other Word Forms

• unbetrothed adjective

Etymology

Origin of betrothed

First recorded in 1530–40; betroth + -ed ²

Example Sentences

Day trader Alex Henderson confuses his betrothed Ashley Carpenter with a shifting backstory involving frequent moves and overlapping dating histories, all attributed to his “nomadic lifestyle.”

From Salon • Mar. 8, 2026

You’ve surely seen these pictures: The newly betrothed couple walking back down the aisle, the bride and groom graciously taking in their champagne toasts, a few dizzying iPhone videos from a crowded dance floor.

From Slate • Apr. 13, 2024

You or your betrothed may be coming into the marriage with significant assets or property, and if you ever divorce, that can get sticky.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 5, 2024

It portrays a real-life Spanish prince, Don Carlo, and Elisabeth of Valois, a French princess, who are secretly in love, although she is betrothed to his father, King Philip II of Spain.

From New York Times • Jul. 1, 2023

“How can this be? How can this be? Our daughter has never left home. She has always been at our side. She has never married, for her betrothed died in battle.”

From "In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson" by Bette Bao Lord