second gentleman

Informal, sec·ond gent

[sek-uhnd jen-tl-muhn]

noun

plural

second gentlemen 

1. Often Second Gentleman the husband of the U.S. vice president, or the husband of a current state or local official ranking immediately below the governor or mayor.

   America's first Second Gentleman.

2. Often Second Gentleman the husband of the second-ranking government official of any country.

Word History and Origins

Origin of second gentleman¹

First recorded in 1980–85

Example Sentences

Before “The Conversation With Kamala Harris” kicked off at 7 p.m., attendees who spotted Harris’ husband, Emhoff, in the first few rows of the venue lined up to shake his hand and take selfies with the former second gentleman of the United States.

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After Biden announces his withdrawal, First Lady Jill Biden welcomes Second Gentleman Emhoff into the fray, advising: “Be careful what you wish for. You’re about to see how horrible the world is.”

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“One of the best parts of my time as Second Gentleman was spending time with these students and young people all around the country — so I look forward to continuing to share my experiences with the next generation and hearing from them in the vibrant academic community at USC,” Emhoff said in a statement.

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“I got behind her. Her husband” — former Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff — “has thanked me a number of times when he’s seen me in person.”

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Second Lady Usha Vance’s old law firm opposes the president’s intimidation effort while former Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff is crossways with his law firm.

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