soul mate

noun

Save Word

Definition of soul mate

1 : a person who is perfectly suited to another in temperament

2 : a person who strongly resembles another in attitudes or beliefs ideological soul mates

Soul Mate and Poetry More Example Sentences Learn More about soul mate

Keep scrolling for more

Soul Mate and Poetry

The earliest known use of soul mate is found in an 1822 letter from English poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge to "a Young Lady" in which he writes, "To be happy in Marriage Life, nay … in order not to be miserable, you must have a Soul-mate as well as a House or a Yoke-mate…." The word yokemate is used to refer to someone who is figuratively yoked to another, such as a close associate or companion, or, as Coleridge uses the word, a spouse. Coleridge's advice to the recipient of his letter, then, is that she should not simply settle for a husband, but rather for a person whose character and sensibilities are of a nature suitable to her own. Soul mate is now often used by English speakers to describe those with whom our bonds of affection are marked by a strong sense of like-mindedness and intertwined affinities.

Examples of soul mate in a Sentence

a husband and wife who are perfect soul mates They are ideological soul mates.

Recent Examples on the Web After his new bride reveals her nasty nature, a man meets the woman who may be his real soul mate and tries to woo her. — Ed Stockly, Los Angeles Times, "Movies on TV this week: ‘My Fair Lady’; ‘Marry Poppins’," 19 Mar. 2021 Having Ben’s Chili Bowl host Crazy Legz was a no-brainer, given the local-icon status of both the restaurant and Beat Ya Feet’s musical soul mate — go-go. — Washington Post, "‘Dance in DC’ short films capture the city’s spirit of entrepreneurship," 19 Dec. 2020 After his new bride reveals her nasty nature, a man meets the woman who may be his real soul mate and tries to woo her. — Los Angeles Times, "Movies on TV this week: ‘Lust for Life’; ‘Platoon’ and more," 5 Mar. 2021 There’s also Aurelio, a bachelor whose piebald soul mate, Birba, with her renowned nose for truffles, is his greatest joy. — Peter Rainer, The Christian Science Monitor, "Oscar hopeful ‘The Truffle Hunters’ is a dog-lover’s delight," 4 Mar. 2021 Nevve brings a wispy but powerful performance, celebrating a night when she's finally found that soul mate. — Billboard Staff, Billboard, "First Spin: The Week's Best New Dance Tracks From Carnage, Joel Corry & David Guetta, Pusher, More," 26 Feb. 2021 With Padilla, Newsom gets a political soul mate and a loyalist. — Time, "California Gov. Newsom Picks Close Ally to Fill Kamala Harris’ Senate Seat – and Not Everyone Is Pleased," 23 Dec. 2020 But in the long shadow of senseless acts, each found a soul mate who could grasp what the other had been through. — Los Angeles Times, "Essential California: The life and death of DJ V-Funk," 17 Dec. 2020 Your next soul mate should be someone who is completely honest and, preferably, fully employed. — Abigail Van Buren, oregonlive, "Dear Abby: Daycare bully worries working mom," 8 Dec. 2020

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