spouse
A spouse is a person someone is married to. It is a general word that can mean either a husband or a wife regardless of gender.
Examples
3 of 5I live in a small apartment with my spouse.
I live in a small home with the person I am married to.
The applicant must provide the full name of their spouse.
The person applying must write down the name of their husband or wife.
My spouse is a really good cook.
My husband or wife makes very good food.
Antonyms
Word Family
Memory Tip
Spouse rhymes with House. It is the person you share a house with after you get married.
Quick Quiz
After the wedding, Sarah became Mark's ________.
Correct!
The correct answer is: spouse
Examples
I live in a small apartment with my spouse.
everydayI live in a small home with the person I am married to.
The applicant must provide the full name of their spouse.
formalThe person applying must write down the name of their husband or wife.
My spouse is a really good cook.
informalMy husband or wife makes very good food.
The research analyzes the economic impact of a spouse's income on household debt.
academicThe study looks at how a husband's or wife's money affects the family's bills.
The health insurance plan covers both the employee and their spouse.
businessThe medical plan pays for the worker and the person they are married to.
Antonyms
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
common-law spouse
a partner treated as a spouse despite no official marriage
spouse-to-be
the person you are going to marry soon
dependent spouse
a husband or wife who relies on the other for money
Often Confused With
Partner can mean a boyfriend or girlfriend, while spouse always means you are legally married.
Usage Notes
The word spouse is very useful because it is gender-neutral. Use it when you don't know if someone has a husband or a wife, or when writing official forms.
Common Mistakes
Learners often use 'partner' for everything, but in legal or formal English, 'spouse' is the correct term for marriage.
Memory Tip
Spouse rhymes with House. It is the person you share a house with after you get married.
Word Origin
Derived from the Old French word 'espos', which comes from the Latin 'sponsus' meaning 'one promised' (as in a promise to marry).
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
In many English-speaking countries, legal forms use 'spouse' to be inclusive of all types of legal marriages.
Quick Quiz
After the wedding, Sarah became Mark's ________.
Correct!
The correct answer is: spouse
Related Grammar Rules
Related Vocabulary
More Family words
father
A1A father is a male parent of a child. This term describes both the biological relationship and the social role of a man who raises and cares for his children.
dad
A1An informal and affectionate name for a father, used primarily by children or within a family context. It refers to a male parent who provides care and support for his offspring.
mother
A1A female parent who has given birth to or raised a child. It is also used more broadly to describe a woman who provides care, protection, and support to another person.
son
A1A male child or man in relation to his parents. It is a fundamental kinship term used to describe a direct male descendant in a family.
child
A1A young human being below the age of puberty or the legal age of majority. It can also refer to a son or daughter of any age in relation to their parents.
sister
A1A sister is a girl or woman who shares the same parents as another person. It can also refer to a woman who shares one parent or someone who is very close like a family member.
twin
A1A twin is one of two children born at the same time to the same mother. It can also refer to one of two things that are exactly the same or very similar.
baby
A1A baby is a very young human being, typically from birth until they start to walk. It is a general term for an infant who requires complete care and attention from adults.
toddler
A1A young child who is just beginning to walk, typically between the ages of one and three. This term describes the developmental stage between infancy and the start of preschool.
adult
A1A person who is fully grown and developed, typically someone who is 18 years of age or older. It is used to distinguish a mature individual from a child or a teenager.
Comments (0)
Login to CommentStart learning languages for free
Start Learning Free