spouse

1 of 2

noun

ˈspau̇s 

also

ˈspau̇z 

: a partner in a marriage : husband, wife

spouse

2 of 2

verb

ˈspau̇z  ˈspau̇s 

spoused; spousing

transitive verb

archaic

: wed

Synonyms of spouse

Noun

• partner
• husband
• wife

Examples of spouse in a Sentence

Noun

my brothers and sisters and their spouses

employees and their spouses are covered by the health plan

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Even a message from your spouse's own account is not proof your spouse sent it. — Ryan Pettit, Time, 7 July 2026

If my spouse had died, people would've been checking in with me regularly. — Malaka Gharib, NPR, 6 July 2026

Verb

Over the next decade, women are expected to control nearly 95% of the $54 trillion in financial assets that gets passed down from spouse to spouse, according to research from Cerulli Associates. — Melissa Houston, Forbes.com, 23 Mar. 2026

The Selling Sunset star recently celebrated her 43rd birthday by renewing her vows to spouse G Flip in Australia, G Flip’s home country. — Sara Netzley, EW.com, 24 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French espus (masculine) & espuse (feminine), from Latin sponsus betrothed man, groom & sponsa betrothed woman, bride, both from sponsus, past participle of spondēre to promise, betroth; akin to Greek spendein to pour a libation, Hittite šipant-

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for spouse

• blouse
• bouse
• douse
• dowse
• grouse
• haus
• louse
• mouse
• rouse
• youse
• alehouse
• almshouse

Kids Definition

spouse

noun

ˈspau̇s

also ˈspau̇z

: a married person : husband, wife

spousal

ˈspau̇-zəl, 

-səl

adjective