betrothed

1 of 2

adjective

be·​trothed bi-ˈtrōt͟hd 

-ˈtrȯtht

: engaged to be married

a betrothed couple

… clasped hands, signifying the bond between betrothed men and women …

—Mary Feilden

For three years she and Emilio Estevez were an item and were even betrothed for a time.

—People Weekly

(old-fashioned) her betrothed husband [=her fiancé; the man to whom she is engaged]

betrothed

2 of 2

noun

: the person to whom someone is engaged to be married

… she put on her grey silk gown and her cherry coloured ribbon with as much care as if she had been herself the betrothed.

—George Eliot

On this occasion he showed no affectionate desire to embrace his betrothed.

—Anthony Trollope

Synonyms

Adjective

• affianced
• bespoke [dialect]
• bespoken
• engaged
• promised [chiefly dialect]

Noun

• fiancé
• fiancée
• intended

Examples of betrothed in a Sentence

Adjective

a splendid party in honor of the betrothed couple

Noun

he gazed lovingly at his betrothed throughout the dinner

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

El Moussa's then-fiancée (now wife), Selling Sunset realtor Heather Rae Young, has a surprising connection to Hall, and the betrothed pair have even met him several times. —Diane J. Cho, Peoplemag, 11 July 2023

After being crowned King on last week's episode, Wednesday's Comedy Roast Night saw the betrothed pink dinosaur get the boot. —Lauren Huff, EW.com, 17 Nov. 2022

Noun

Tackling the opera’s challenges with palpable gladness, Costanzo sings the servant Figaro, his betrothed Susanna, and a whole palace worth of erotic schemers, as virtuosic lip-synching performers act out the scenes. —The New Yorker, 6 Sep. 2024

Set up guardrails that keep every conversation with your betrothed from barreling towards wedding central. —Keyaira Boone, Essence, 2 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

from past participle of betroth

Noun

noun derivative of betrothed entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1557, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1594, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

betrothed

noun

be·​trothed -ˈträtht  -ˈtrȯtht 

-ˈtrōt͟hd

: the person to whom one is betrothed