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

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

Her husband stated that she was subsequently granted authorization to work legally in the U.S. At the time of her detention, Sakeik was in the process of applying for a green card. —Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 June 2025

The memoir describes the fallout of Lacey’s divorce from her emotionally abusive husband. —Diana Arterian june 20, Literary Hub, 20 June 2025

Verb

Many others shared tributes after learning of Burrell’s death, including Rachael Ray, who was a bridesmaid in Burrell’s October 2021 wedding to husband Stuart Claxton. —Angel Saunders, People.com, 19 June 2025

The chef announced the news of her pregnancy on her wedding anniversary to husband Max Cantor Alison Roman is officially a mom! —Kayla Grant, People.com, 23 Jan. 2025

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

• 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