husband

American  

[huhz-buhnd] / ˈhʌz bənd /

noun

1. a married man, especially when considered in relation to his partner in marriage.

2. British. a manager.

3. Archaic. a prudent or frugal manager.

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verb (used with object)

1. to manage, especially with prudent economy.

2. to use frugally; conserve.

   to husband one's resources.

   Synonyms:

   hoard, store, save, preserve

3. Archaic.

   1. to be or become a husband to; marry.

   2. to find a husband for.

   3. to till; cultivate.

husband British  

/ ˈhʌzbənd /

noun

1. a woman's partner in marriage

2. archaic

   1. a manager of an estate

   2. a frugal person

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verb

1. to manage or use (resources, finances, etc) thriftily

2. archaic

   1. (tr) to find a husband for

   2. (of a woman) to marry (a man)

3. obsolete (tr) to till (the soil)

Other Word Forms

• husbander noun
• husbandless adjective
• unhusbanded adjective

Etymology

Origin of husband

before 1000; Middle English husband ( e ), Old English hūsbonda master of the house < Old Norse hūsbōndi, equivalent to hūs house + bōndi ( bō-, variant of bū- dwell ( boor ) + -nd present participle suffix + -i inflectional ending)

Example Sentences

He used her phone to send a group text to Gonzales and seven members of his staff, identifying himself as Santos-Aviles’ “soon to be ex husband” and announcing the affair.

From Salon

The first series of Doctor Foster saw Gemma, a doctor in the fictional town of Parminster, discover her husband Simon was having an affair.

From BBC

"Me and my husband have rows about it all the time, about what goes in recycling and what doesn't go in recycling," says Hirra, who is a leaseholder in a new build block.

From BBC

She asked other temple members for help, but no one could find her husband, he said.

From Los Angeles Times

She and her husband, who should have returned to their country on Monday, remain stranded by the cancellation of flights by US and Canadian airlines following the operation against "El Mencho."

From Barron's

Related Words

• companion
• partner
• spouse