wife

1 of 2

noun (1)

ˈwīf 

plural wives ˈwīvz 

1

a

dialect : woman

b

: a woman acting in a specified capacity

—used in combination

fishwife

2

: a female partner in a marriage

wifehood

ˈwīf-ˌhu̇d 

ˈwī-ˌfu̇d

noun

wifeless

ˈwī-fləs 

adjective

wifehood

2 of 2

noun (2)

wife·​hood ˈwīfˌhu̇d 

: the quality or state of being a wife

achieved the status of wifehood

Synonyms of wife

Noun (1)

• lady
• woman
• spouse
• partner
• bride
• widow
• madam
• wifey
• Mrs.

Examples of wife in a Sentence

Noun (1)

We met him and his wife.

a husband and wife who treat each other as equals in their marriage

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Anne Hathaway portrays his loyal wife Penelope, while Tom Holland makes his Nolan debut as their son, Telemachus. — Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026

An order on the case issued in 2020 did not include a finding of abuse but prohibited David Brouillette from having contact with his second ex-wife with a few exceptions. — Curt Devine, CNN Money, 18 July 2026

Basketball legend LeBron James takes his wife Savannah James on date night to the Time100 Sports Gala on July 16 in New York City. — People Staff, PEOPLE, 18 July 2026

Cannon was pre-deceased by his son, John, in April of this year, and by his wife and high school sweetheart, Jeanette, in September 2024. — Chris Willman, Variety, 18 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English wif, from Old English wīf; akin to Old High German wīb wife and probably to Tocharian B kwīpe female pudenda

Noun (2)

Middle English wifhod, wifhode, from Old English wīfhād womanhood, from wīf woman, wife + -hād -hood

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing wife

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

Rhymes for wife

• knife
• life
• rife
• strife
• afterlife
• pocketknife
• alewife
• birdlife
• folklife
• housewife
• jackknife
• midlife

Kids Definition

wife

noun

ˈwīf 

plural wives ˈwīvz 

1

dialect : woman sense 1

2

: a female partner in a marriage