husband

1 of 2

noun

hus·​band ˈhəz-bənd 

1

: a male partner in a marriage

her husband of forty years

2

British : the manager of another's property : steward

3

: a frugal manager

… speaks his whole mind gaily, and is not the cautious husband of a part …

—W. B. Yeats

husbandly adjective

husband

2 of 2

verb

husbanded; husbanding; husbands

transitive verb

1

a

: to manage prudently and economically

a country that has husbanded its resources well

b

: to use sparingly : conserve

must husband one's strength

2

archaic : to find a husband for : mate

husbander noun

Synonyms of husband

Noun

• spouse
• partner
• hubby

Verb

• conserve

Examples of husband in a Sentence

Noun

Have you met her husband?

she and her husband just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary

Verb

The country has husbanded its resources well.

husband our natural resources so that our children and grandchildren may benefit from them

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The key witness in the case could be her husband Patrick Clancy, who went out to pick up takeout food that January 2023 day and came home to find the gruesome scene. — Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 26 July 2026

Some of his admirers gathered at the Indiana Dunes State Park Friday for the hike, including his widow Susan Seman, who because of her ailments normally couldn’t go on her husband’s jaunts. — Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 26 July 2026

Verb

The glimpse reminded voters that Davis, who was husbanding his resources for a late advertising push, was still in the race. — Mark Z. Barabak, Mercury News, 28 Mar. 2026

Credibly balancing against China in the foreseeable future will require husbanding resources more carefully. — Ely Ratner, Washington Post, 16 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English husbonde, from Old English hūsbonda master of a house, from Old Norse hūsbōndi, from hūs house + bōndi householder; akin to Old Norse būa to inhabit; akin to Old English būan to dwell — more at bower

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing husband

• estranged husband
• husband and wife
• take a wife/husband

Kids Definition

husband

1 of 2 noun

hus·​band ˈhəz-bənd 

: a male partner in a marriage

husband

2 of 2 verb

: to manage carefully and economically : conserve

husbanded their resources

husbander noun

Etymology

Noun

Old English hūsbonda "master of a house," from early Norse hūsbondi, literally, "house owner" — related to house