trophy wife

American  

noun

1. the young, often second, wife of a rich middle-aged man.

---

Etymology

Origin of trophy wife

An Americanism dating back to 1985–90

Example Sentences

For Fahy, plotting life after “The Bold Type,” which ended in 2021, included auditioning for the role of a wealthy but unhappy trophy wife in the first season of “The White Lotus.”

From Los Angeles Times

Belatedly, a hint of a plot emerges, involving the arrival of multiple disruptive figures from Massimo’s past, who stoke Laura’s lingering dissatisfaction with being a mobster’s trophy wife.

From Los Angeles Times

The elderly mother of the trophy wife of a tetchy physician just up and dies.

From New York Times

“I’m not saying every woman can be the epic trophy wife of all time like Melania Trump. Most women can’t be trophy wives, but you know ... maybe you’re a participation trophy.”

From BBC

I imagine there is more than one 62-year-old rich guy who thinks that means his 29-year-old trophy wife will get him to the head of the vaccination line.

From Seattle Times