wife

1 of 2

noun (1)

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

wifehood

2 of 2

noun (2)

wife·​hood ˈwīfˌhu̇d 

: the quality or state of being a wife

achieved the status of wifehood

Synonyms of wife

Noun (1)

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

Examples of wife in a Sentence

Noun (1)

We met him and his wife.

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Keach died at home Tuesday in Magdalenka, Poland, after a long battle with a heart condition and heart failure, his wife, Malgosia Tomassi Keach, told the Hollywood Reporter in a statement. — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 11 Nov. 2026

Thomas has been arrested six times in the past, most recently in 2019 for allegedly choking his wife, police sources said. — Rebecca White, New York Daily News, 10 Nov. 2026

Cerny is survived by his wife, two sons, and two grandchildren. — Jeramie Bizzle, CBS News, 10 Nov. 2026

Huang acknowledged being unfaithful to his wife and apologized to his family and the company. — Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

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

Noun (2)

Middle English wifhod, wifhode, from Old English wīfhād womanhood, from wīf woman, wife + -hād -hood

First Known Use

Noun (1)

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