spouse

American  

[spous, spouz, spouz, spous] / spaʊs, spaʊz, spaʊz, spaʊs /

noun

spouses plural

1. either member of a married pair in relation to the other; one's husband or wife.

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verb (used with object)

spoused, spousing

1. Obsolete. to join, give, or take in marriage.

spouse British  

noun

1. a person's partner in marriage

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verb

1. obsolete (tr) to marry

Usage

What does spouse mean? Someone’s spouse is the person who they’re 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. An adjective form of spouse is spousal, meaning relating to or involving marriage, as in Does this insurance plan provide spousal coverage?Example: If you and your spouse file your taxes jointly, you may be eligible for certain rebates.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• spousehood
  noun
• spouseless
  adjective
• unspoused
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• spouses
  plural

Etymology

Origin of spouse

First recorded in 1150–1200; (for the noun) Middle English, from Old French spous (masculine), spouse (feminine), shortened from espous, espouse, from Latin spōnsus, spōnsa, literally, “pledged (man, woman),” noun uses of past participle of spondēre “to pledge”; (for the verb) Middle English spousen, from Old French esp(o)user; cf. espouse

Explanation

A spouse is your companion, your mate, your partner. In ye olden times, spouse was used as a verb meaning “to marry,” but nowadays, it functions as a noun referring to either husband or wife. Your spouse is often called "your better half." What we call adultery used to be referred to as spouse-breach in the early 13th century. American pediatrician Benjamin Spock said, “The surest measure of a man's or a woman's maturity is the harmony, style, joy, and dignity he creates in his marriage, and the pleasure and inspiration he provides for his spouse.” So, avoid that spouse-breaching at all costs, and till death do you part.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

spouse spouses spoused

If you’re a surviving spouse — or, in certain cases, a child under 21 — you won’t owe any inheritance tax.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026

When one spouse dies, household income often falls while many essential expenses, particularly housing, remain largely unchanged.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 24, 2026

If your pilot suddenly keeled over, would you trust their spouse to fly the plane?

From Slate ● Jul. 24, 2026

The impulse to replace a deceased lawmaker with a grieving spouse, child, or other family member is faintly absurd.

From Slate ● Jul. 24, 2026

Even the Matching of Spouses was given such weighty consideration that sometimes an adult who applied to receive a spouse waited months or even years before a Match was approved and announced.

From "The Giver" by Lois Lowry

In other instances, they were daughters, state officials, or even the spouses of the governors doing the appointing.

From Slate ● Jul. 24, 2026

“In many states, spouses have a legal obligation to support each other. If one spouse needs long-term nursing home care the assets of the other may be used to pay bills,” it adds.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 22, 2026

For spouses Jennifer Kraus and Abigail Cruz, the plants smelled like rotten garbage.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026

Graham Norton was the only other person in the UK who was publicly invited, so James attended a "secret dinner" at his house so their spouses could meet.

From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026

There’d been only a few of us attending that year, and after a quick introduction the politicians went one way, while spouses were ushered into another room.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

Thou shalt be spoused to fair Gwendoline; Love her, and take her, for she is thine own, If so thy uncle and her self do please.

From Locrine/Mucedorus by Shakespeare (spurious and doubtful works)

The unworthy suit, She scorned, from childhood spoused in heart to Christ: She fled: upon the river lay a boat: She rowed it on through forests many a mile; A month had passed since then.

From Legends of the Saxon Saints by De Vere, Aubrey

He wan all Scotland.Also in this yere Robert Wynchelsee erchebysshop of Caunterbury spoused the kyng Edward and Margarete the kynges suster of Fraunce togidere: and also pees was mad betwen bothe kynges.

From A Chronicle of London from 1089 to 1483 Written in the Fifteenth Century, and for the First Time Printed from MSS. in the British Museum by Nicolas, Nicholas Harris, Sir

SIR Clerk of Oxenford," our Hoste said, "Ye ride as still and coy, as doth a maid That were new spoused, sitting at the board: This day I heard not of your tongue a word.

From The Canterbury Tales, and Other Poems by Purves, D. Laing

And right as Rachel and Leah were both wives unto Jacob, right so man's soul through light of knowing in the reason, and sweetness of love in the affection, is spoused unto God.

From The Cell of Self-Knowledge : seven early English mystical treatises printed by Henry Pepwell in 1521 by Gardner, Edmund Garratt

Related Words

• companion
• domestic partner
• husband
• mate
• partner
• wife