Definition of SOUL MATE

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

Ten eligible women selected by a blue-ribbon panel of matchmakers vie for a chance at love with a mystery gentleman in search of his soul mate. — Hal Boedeker, OrlandoSentinel.com, "'America's Got Talent' has Orlando hopeful; 'Proposal,' 'Yellowstone' debut," 17 June 2018 That [was in the] incredibly emotional sequence of Elizabeth and her soul mate Gregory choosing to die -- whether to be taken in or taken away from his country. — Mike Ayers, Billboard, "'The Americans' Showrunners Pick the Series' 8 Best Musical Moments," 30 May 2018 Above, 15 hair soul mates whose lengths have withstood the test of time. — Mackenzie Wagoner, Vogue, "15 Couples Who Cemented Their Soulmate Status With Twinning Haircuts," 4 July 2018 In the hereafter, Michael sets up narrative threads, matches soul mates together, and tries to make sure everyone is happy eternally. — Noah Berlatsky, Washington Post, "TV is showing us the dark side of playing God," 5 Jan. 2018 Loibl told Dennington that Grimmie was his soul mate. — Jeff Weiner, OrlandoSentinel.com, "CHRISTINA GRIMMIE: THE MURDER OF A RISING STAR," 19 June 2018 Joe McCauley approached the event at Northville High School last month like any anxious suitor looking for his political soul mate. — Kathleen Gray, Detroit Free Press, "Who's your political soul mate? Candidate speed dating helps make match," 28 May 2018 According to a recent study, daters who believe in destiny — soul mates, love at first sight, the stuff of romance novels — are more likely to engage in ghosting (or perhaps one of its iterations: orbiting, benching, breadcrumbing). — Anna Orso, Philly.com, "Do you believe in soulmates? You're more likely to 'ghost' your date," 3 May 2018 That your backpack soul mate lies somewhere within this article, having been recommended by someone who frequently travels with a backpack in hand. — Lindsey Lanquist, SELF, "16 of the Best Backpacks You Can Possibly Buy, According to Frequent Travelers," 6 June 2018

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.