noun
wife
WYFE/waɪf/
A married woman in relation to her spouse.
The newly married wife stands beside her husband with their wedding bands touching.
Etymology
Old English wif meant a woman generally as well as a female spouse. Modern wife narrowed to the marital relationship, while the broader meaning survives in compounds such as midwife.
In context
… when you get married, the husband's body is not his own, it belongs to his wife, and the wife's body is not her own.
More examples
- Her wife is a teacher.
- The wives joined the celebration.
- She introduced us to her wife.
Forms
wife · wives
Similar words
- spouse
- Gender-neutral term for a married partner.