wife

noun

ˈwīf 

plural wives ˈwīvz 

1

a

dialect : woman

b

: a woman acting in a specified capacity

—used in combination

fishwife

2

: a female partner in a marriage

wifehood

ˈwīf-ˌhu̇d 

ˈwī-ˌfu̇d

noun

wifeless

ˈwī-fləs 

adjective

Synonyms of wife

• lady
• woman
• spouse
• partner
• bride
• widow
• madam
• wifey
• Mrs.

Examples of wife in a Sentence

We met him and his wife.

a husband and wife who treat each other as equals in their marriage

Recent Examples on the Web

Off-screen, Atherton has been married to his wife, writer Bobbi Goldin, since 1980. — Kelly Allen, PEOPLE, 9 Aug. 2026

Cracks became public last month, when an online petition started by Giovanni Galante, whose wife Grace Galante was killed, asked the 9/11 Memorial and Museum to consider barring Mamdani from the ceremony. — Gloria Pazmino, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026

Related Stories After his death, his wife Vicki and son Isidore organize an exhibit of his artworks, complete with explorable digestive tracts, fantastical appendages, and detachable eyeballs. — Ed Meza, Variety, 8 Aug. 2026

Stand by Me was among the films of Reiner that were fondly remembered after he and his wife, Michele, were murdered late last year. — Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 8 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English wif, from Old English wīf; akin to Old High German wīb wife and probably to Tocharian B kwīpe female pudenda

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing wife

• estranged wife
• husband and wife
• take a wife/husband
• trad wife
• trophy wife

Rhymes for wife

• knife
• life
• rife
• strife
• afterlife
• pocketknife
• alewife
• birdlife
• folklife
• housewife
• jackknife
• midlife

Kids Definition

wife

noun

ˈwīf 

plural wives ˈwīvz 

1

dialect : woman sense 1

2

: a female partner in a marriage