spousal
Americannoun
adjective
noun
adjective
Usage
What does spousal mean? Spousal means relating to or involving marriage. The word marital can often be used to mean the same thing. Spousal is an adjective form of spouse—the person who someone is married to (their partner in marriage). A spouse who’s a man is often called a husband, while a spouse who’s a woman is often called a wife. The word partner is a gender-neutral way to refer to one’s spouse. People most commonly use one of these terms when talking about or introducing their spouse, as opposed to using the word spouse. The word spouse is more commonly used in formal or official contexts, such as on forms that require family relations to be specified. Spousal is used in terms referring to such relationships or situations involving them, such as spousal benefits and spousal counseling. Sadly, one of the most common uses of spousal is in the term spousal abuse, which specifically refers to abuse of the person that one is married to. (The broader term domestic abuse typically refers to abuse of someone within one’s household.)Much less commonly, spousal can be used as a noun, especially in the plural form spousals, meaning a marriage ceremony. The word nuptials means the same thing but is much more common. Example: Does this insurance plan provide spousal coverage?
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of spousal
1250–1300; Middle English spousaille, aphetic variant of espousaille espousal
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.
If she had not gotten remarried, she could have applied for spousal benefits based on her ex-husband’s Social Security benefits.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 18, 2026
Under the new law, individuals who turned 62 after Jan. 2, 2016, and were eligible for both their own benefits and spousal benefits would receive the higher of the two amounts when claiming.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 2, 2026
The family’s attempt to designate 36 grandchildren as beneficiaries was rejected due to issues with a spousal waiver.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026
Acting as Val’s agent under the power of attorney, he signed to change the beneficiaries to the grandchildren and waive Val’s spousal rights.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026
Great mockery, it appears to me; Poor image of the spousal bond Of Christ and Church, if loosed beyond This life!—’Gainst which, and much more yet, There’s not a single word to set.
From Victories of Love by Patmore, Coventry Kersey Dighton
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.
