first gentleman

American  

[furst jen-tl-muhn] / ˈfɜrst ˈdʒɛn tl mən /

Informal, first gent

noun

first gentlemen plural

1. Often First Gentleman the husband of the U.S. president or a current governor or mayor.

2. Often First Gentleman the husband of the head of any country.

3. the foremost man in any art, profession, or the like.

   the first gentleman of film.

---

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• first gentlemen
  plural

Etymology

Origin of first gentleman

First recorded in 1920–25; after first lady ( def. )

Example Sentences

Andy Samberg was goofy and playful as Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, who joked that as first gentleman, he’ll decorate the White House for Christmas with the theme “Hanukkah.”

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 29, 2024

If she wins, Doug Emhoff will be the first first gentleman.

From Slate • Aug. 21, 2024

He was then sworn in aside his husband, first gentleman Marlon Reis, before the ceremony was capped by words from a rabbi.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 10, 2023

“I understand that I am the first gentleman to hold this role, and I certainly do not want to be last.”

From New York Times • Jan. 20, 2021

I suppose you were the first gentleman who had ever crossed my threshold, and I remember wondering what on earth you’d come for!

From Berenice by Oppenheim, E. Phillips (Edward Phillips)