spouse

spouse — noun

1. the person that someone is married to, used especially in legal or official lang

1.nounB2
Definition

the person that someone is married to, used especially in legal or official language when the gender of the partner is unknown or not important

Example

When Ryo applied for a visa, the form asked for his spouse's full name.

used on official immigration forms

A spouse may stay overnight in the patient's room at this hospital.

Common collocations
  • surviving spouse
  • legal spouse
  • estranged spouse
  • spouse's consent
Synonyms
  • husband/wife

    Gender-specific terms used in everyday speech; 'husband' for a man, 'wife' for a woman.

  • partner

    Broader term that may include unmarried relationships; less formal than 'spouse'.

  • consort

    Very formal term, used mainly for royalty or historical figures.

Grammar Patterns

a spouse

Usage Note

Commonly used in legal, medical, and official contexts where a gender-neutral term for a married partner is needed. In everyday conversation, 'husband' or 'wife' sounds more natural.

Common Mistakes

I'm going to spouse my girlfriend next summer.
I'm going to marry my girlfriend next summer.
'Spouse' is a noun, not a verb, in modern English; use 'marry' for the verb form.

spouse — verb

Word family

  • spousal
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Spouse' is the most formal and legally recognized term for a marriage partner, commonly found on official documents such as tax forms, insurance policies, and visa applications. 'Husband' and 'wife' are everyday terms that specify gender and are the natural choice in casual conversation — for example, 'My husband made dinner' sounds natural, while 'My spouse made dinner' sounds odd in most social settings. 'Partner' is a broader gender-neutral term that can refer to a married or unmarried person in a long-term relationship, making it useful when the legal status is unknown. Unlike 'spouse', 'partner' carries no specific legal weight and is more common in social than official language.

spouse ↗husband ↗wife ↗partner ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • legal spouse
  • surviving spouse
  • estranged spouse

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

From Latin 'spondere' meaning to promise solemnly, which produced 'sponsus' (a man promised in marriage) and 'sponsa' (a woman promised in marriage). The word passed through Old French 'espous' into Middle English, and its meaning has always been tied to the binding promise of marriage rather than the romantic relationship itself.