significant other

noun

: a person who is important to one's well-being

especially : a spouse or one in a similar relationship

Synonyms of significant other

• partner
• spouse
• better half
• husband

Examples of significant other in a Sentence

Before you make such an important decision, you should talk it over with your significant other.

she has threatened to divorce her significant other if he doesn't stop gambling

Recent Examples on the Web

Does his significant other and babymama Isabel Haugseng Johansen constantly have to remind him to toss the underwear and socks in the laundry hamper as opposed to on the floor? — Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Despite this, the couple divorced their significant others and married each other in November 2017. — Kalia Richardson, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026

The singer’s October 1973 hit song chronicles one woman’s jealousy surrounding her significant other’s interest in another woman. — Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026

Reportedly, their respective significant others unfollowed each other, and Bailey and Pankow unfollowed the other’s partner as well. — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 20 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1940, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for significant other

• another
• godmother
• grandmother
• stepbrother
• stepmother
• brother
• mother
• nother
• smother
• souther

Medical Definition

significant other

noun

significant oth·​er -ˈət͟h-ər 

: a person who is important to one's well-being

especially : a spouse or one in a similar relationship