spousal

American  

[spou-zuhl] / ˈspaʊ zəl /

noun

1. Often spousals. the ceremony of marriage; nuptials.

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adjective

1. nuptial; matrimonial.

spousal British  

/ ˈspaʊzəl /

noun

1. (often plural)

   1. the marriage ceremony

   2. a wedding

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adjective

1. of or relating to marriage

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

• interspousal adjective
• interspousally adverb
• spousally adverb

Etymology

Origin of spousal

1250–1300; Middle English spousaille, aphetic variant of espousaille espousal

Example Sentences

Johnson owns about 8.6 million shares directly and 3.4 million more indirectly through a spousal trust, according to the latest SEC filing.

From MarketWatch

The Social Security Administration offers married people spousal benefits, which can be as much as 50% of a spouse’s benefit at full retirement age.

From MarketWatch

Survivor benefits are treated differently from a person’s own retirement benefit or a spousal benefit.

From MarketWatch

An eligible ex-spouse who claims spousal benefits on your record does not affect the family maximum.

From MarketWatch

Acceptable reasons for a refund include marriage, divorce or spousal death; work stoppage or reduction; loss of income-producing property, such as from a disaster; loss of pension income; or an employer settlement payment.

From The Wall Street Journal