Definition and pronunciation
spouse /spaʊs/ — noun: a gender-neutral term for a married partner (husband or wife).
Related adjective: spousal /ˈspaʊzəl/ (e.g., spousal support/benefits). Plural: spouses /ˈspaʊzɪz/.
Easy explanation
A spouse is the person you are married to. It can refer to a man or a woman, so it’s a simple, inclusive word for “husband or wife.”
Grammatical formation
- Part of speech: countable noun (a spouse; two spouses).
- Possessives: spouse’s (singular), spouses’ (plural).
- Common compounds: spouse visa, spouse card, spouse benefit.
- Adjective: spousal (spousal support/privilege/benefits).
- Not a verb (don’t say “to spouse”); the related verb is espouse (“support or adopt a cause”), which is different.
Meanings and nuances
- Married partner in neutral/legal or formal contexts: forms, benefits, introductions.
- Inclusive use across genders and marriage types; avoids specifying husband or wife.
With prepositions and variants
- spouse of [person] — headline/biographical style (“spouse of the ambassador”).
- spouse to [person] — rare/formal; “married to” is preferred for status.
- spouse with [rights/benefits] — administrative phrasing (“spouse with dependent coverage”).
- married to [person] — status phrase that identifies the spouse without the word spouse.
- spouse and [spouse/partner] — pairings (“spouse and spouse,” “spouse and partner” in policies).
Common collocations
married spouse, surviving spouse, lawful spouse, estranged spouse, former spouse, ex-spouse, dependent spouse, common-law spouse, eligible spouse, spouse visa, spouse benefits, spousal support, spousal privilege, spousal consent, spousal exemption, spouses and dependents
Idioms and neighboring expressions
better half, other half, significant other (SO), life partner, legally wedded spouse, next of kin, better-half jokes (informal)
Word comparisons
- spouse vs husband/wife: spouse is gender-neutral; husband/wife specify gender.
- spouse vs partner: partner is broader (married or not); spouse specifically means married partner.
- spouse vs fiancé/fiancée: fiancé(e) is engaged; spouse is already married.
- spousal vs marital: near-synonyms; spousal is common in law/policy.
- spouse vs consort: consort is formal/royal.
Real-life examples
- “List your spouse and dependents on the insurance form.”
- “Her spouse attended the award ceremony.”
- “The surviving spouse may claim certain benefits.”
Sample sentences
- “Employees can add a spouse to their health plan.”
- “She introduced Maria as her spouse.”
- “Only a spouse or next of kin may access the records.”
- “He and his spouse co-signed the mortgage.”
- “Ex-spouses sometimes share custody.”
- “The policy covers spouses and domestic partners.”
- “Spousal support was determined in mediation.”
- “As her spouse, he qualifies for a visa.”
- “The law recognizes common-law spouses in some regions.”
- “They invited colleagues and their spouses.”
Synonyms
husband, wife, partner, significant other, life partner, consort, mate, better half
Antonyms
single, unmarried, ex-spouse, former partner, widow, widower, divorcé, divorcée
Related terms
marriage, husband, wife, partner, civil union, domestic partnership, common-law marriage, spousal support (alimony), community property, equitable distribution, next of kin, marital status, conjugal, matrimonial, beneficiary, dependent
Connection to sexuality
“Spouse” is not a sexual term. It marks a legal/social relationship. Sexual topics (e.g., conjugal relations, fidelity) can arise in marriages, but the word itself carries no sexual meaning.
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