wife
A wife is a female partner in a marriage. It refers to a woman who is legally or formally joined to another person in a marital relationship.
Examples
3 of 5My wife is at the grocery store right now.
My wife is at the grocery store right now.
He was accompanied to the ceremony by his wife.
He was accompanied to the ceremony by his wife.
I'm meeting my wife for lunch at that new cafe.
I'm meeting my wife for lunch at that new cafe.
Word Family
Memory Tip
Think of the phrase 'Wedding for Life'—the 'W' is for Wife, your partner for life.
Quick Quiz
John is married to Sarah. Sarah is John's ______.
Correct!
The correct answer is: wife
Examples
My wife is at the grocery store right now.
everydayMy wife is at the grocery store right now.
He was accompanied to the ceremony by his wife.
formalHe was accompanied to the ceremony by his wife.
I'm meeting my wife for lunch at that new cafe.
informalI'm meeting my wife for lunch at that new cafe.
The paper discusses the legal rights of a wife in the 19th century.
academicThe paper discusses the legal rights of a wife in the 19th century.
You and your wife are cordially invited to the company dinner.
businessYou and your wife are cordially invited to the company dinner.
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
man and wife
the traditional status of a married couple
old wives' tale
a traditional belief that is often incorrect or superstitious
happy wife, happy life
a proverb suggesting domestic peace depends on the wife's happiness
Often Confused With
Woman refers to any female adult, while wife specifically refers to a woman who is married.
A fiancée is a woman engaged to be married, whereas a wife is already married.
Usage Notes
The term is used specifically for a female in a marriage. In modern, inclusive contexts, many people use 'spouse' or 'partner' regardless of gender.
Common Mistakes
The most common mistake is the plural form; learners often write 'wifes' instead of the correct irregular plural 'wives'.
Memory Tip
Think of the phrase 'Wedding for Life'—the 'W' is for Wife, your partner for life.
Word Origin
Derived from the Old English word 'wif', which originally simply meant 'woman' or 'female'.
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
In many English-speaking cultures, it remains a common tradition for a wife to take her husband's surname upon marriage.
Quick Quiz
John is married to Sarah. Sarah is John's ______.
Correct!
The correct answer is: wife
Related Vocabulary
A wedding is a formal ceremony where two people are legally...
spouseA spouse is a person someone is married to. It is a general...
familyA family is a group of people who are related to each other,...
brideA woman on her wedding day or just before it, typically used...
marriageMarriage is the legal or formal union of two people as partn...
husbandA husband is a married man in relation to his spouse. It is...
More Family words
grandparent
A1A grandparent is the parent of one's father or mother. It is a general term that refers to either a grandfather or a grandmother within a family structure.
grandson
A1A grandson is the son of one's son or daughter. It is a term used to describe a male child in relation to his grandparents.
granddaughter
A1A granddaughter is the daughter of a person's son or daughter. It describes the relationship between a female child and her grandparents.
grandchild
A1A grandchild is the child of one's son or daughter. It represents the second generation of descendants after one's own children.
uncle
A1An uncle is the brother of one's father or mother, or the husband of one's aunt. It is a term used to describe a specific male relative within a family structure.
niece
A1A niece is the daughter of your brother or sister. It also refers to the daughter of your husband's or wife's brother or sister.
descendant
A1A descendant is a person who comes from a specific ancestor or family line. It refers to someone who is the child, grandchild, or great-grandchild of a person from the past.
wedding
A1A wedding is a formal ceremony where two people are legally joined in marriage. It usually includes a party called a reception for family and friends to celebrate the new couple.
divorced
A1A status describing a person who was previously married but has legally ended their marriage. It is the state of being no longer joined to a spouse by law.
spouse
A1A 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.
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