husband

noun hus·band \ ˈhəz-bənd \

Updated on: 16 Apr 2018

Definition of husband

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

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husbandly

adjective

See husband defined for English-language learners

See husband defined for kids

Examples of husband in a Sentence

Have you met her husband?
she and her husband just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary

Recent Examples of husband from the Web

Then there’s Lavelle Nichols, her live-in partner and ex-husband.

— simon montlake, The Christian Science Monitor, "Tulsa experiment: Can investing in children early reverse poverty cycle?," 13 Apr. 2018
One day in April 2016, Moss responded to Central Florida Regional Hospital, where a woman had been taken after she was run over and stabbed by her husband outside of a Chili's restaurant.

— michael williams, OrlandoSentinel.com, "During crime victims' darkest moments, volunteer advocates lend a shoulder," 13 Apr. 2018
She was predeceased by her ex-husband Leonard Feldstein and two brothers, Albert and Solomon Fein.

— hartford courant, courant.com, "Blanche Lord," 10 Apr. 2018
The ex-wife had filed a restraining order that had not yet been served on her ex-husband, according to CBS affiliate KTVQ.

— crimesider staff, CBS News, "Billings, Montana sees 2nd fatal police shooting in 24 hours," 10 Apr. 2018
Her first husband of 14 years, Roy Simmons, a Ford Motor Co. accountant, died in 1954.

— frederick n. rasmussen, baltimoresun.com, "Pearl S. Barnes, executive secretary," 10 Apr. 2018
Bethenny Frankel has some unexpected, yet totally welcome, news about Meghan Markle's ex-husband, Trevor Engelson.

— amy mackelden, Marie Claire, "Bethenny Frankel Dated Meghan Markle's Ex-Husband, Trevor Engelson," 9 Apr. 2018
Mary Dukes, 85, who lives two houses from the couple, said the husband often helped her carry shopping bags from her car to her front door.

— mensah m. dean, Philly.com, "Philadelphia couple dead in apparent murder-suicide," 8 Apr. 2018
Hudson already has two sons, 14-year-old Ryder, with ex-husband Chris Robinson, and 6-year-old Bingham, with ex-fiance Matt Bellamy.

— lauren alexis fisher, Harper's BAZAAR, "Surprise: Kate Hudson Is Pregnant!," 6 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'husband.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of husband

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

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First Known Use: 13th century

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