Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

bride

1 American  
[brahyd] / braɪd /

noun

  1. a newly married woman or a woman about to be married.

bride 2 American  
[brahyd, breed] / braɪd, brid /

noun

  1. Also called bar, leg, tie.  a connection consisting of a thread or a number of threads for joining various solid parts of a design in needlepoint lace.

  2. an ornamental bonnet string.

Bride 3 American  
[brahyd] / braɪd /

noun

  1. Saint. Brigid, Saint.

Bride 1 British  
/ braɪd /

noun

  1. See Bridget

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
bride 2 British  
/ braɪd /

noun

  1. a woman who has just been or is about to be married

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
bride 3 British  
/ braɪd /

noun

  1. Also called: bar.  lacemaking needlework a thread or loop that joins parts of a pattern

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
bride Idioms  

  1. see give away (the bride).

Other Word Forms

  • brideless adjective
  • bridelike adjective

Etymology

Origin of bride1

before 1000; Middle English; Old English brȳd; cognate with Dutch bruid, German Braut, Old Norse brūthr, Gothic brūths

Origin of bride2

1865–70; < French: bonnet-string, bridle, Old French < Germanic; see bridle

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But at St Cwyfan's Church off Anglesey, the problems are altogether different - with guests wondering if high tide will cut the bride off from her big day completely.

From BBC • Apr. 23, 2026

When David refuses, insisting on marrying his true love, the king demands a disgusting bride price.

From Salon • Mar. 29, 2026

With $9.1 million, fourth place went to Searchlight's "Ready or Not 2," a follow-up to the 2019 original comedy horror in which a bride must survive a deadly game of hide-and-seek with her new in-laws.

From Barron's • Mar. 22, 2026

If you’re a bride, it’s impossible to look for inspiration without coming across her dress.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 5, 2026

Arnold needed money to live in a mansion and keep his stylish new bride happy.

From "George Washington, Spymaster" by Thomas B. Allen

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.