spouse

/spaʊ̯s/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: spouses · spousing · spoused

Sense 1

Meaning · English

A person in a marriage or marital relationship.

Noun

Examples

People should treat their spouses with respect.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

To wed; to espouse.

VerbRegister: dated

Examples

Do you stand possess’d Of any proof against the honourableness Of Lady Auranthe, our new-spoused daughter?

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “spouse” mean?

A person in a marriage or marital relationship.

Is “spouse” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.