wife

noun

ˈwīf How to pronounce wife (audio)
plural wives ˈwīvz How to pronounce wife (audio)
Synonyms of wifenext
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 How to pronounce wife (audio)
ˈwī-ˌfu̇d
noun
wifeless
ˈwī-fləs How to pronounce wife (audio)
adjective

Synonyms

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Everyone thought my mom was a saint for being my dad's wife, for taking care of not just him but our entire household. — Malaka Gharib, NPR, 21 Mar. 2025 Note to Disney dads: Stop going to war and leaving your kids with your mean wives! 14. — Emma Specter, Vogue, 21 Mar. 2025 His brother has also mysteriously vanished, leaving a cryptic note for his wife, Lucy (Anna Maxwell Martin). — Erik Kain, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025 The sellers were legendary New Zealand singer-songwriter Neil Finn of Split Enz and Crowded House fame and his longtime wife Sharon, who had only picked up the place two years earlier, in 2020, for $4.3 million. — Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 21 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for wife

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of wife was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing wife

Rhymes for wife

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Browse Nearby Words

wiesenboden
wife
wife's equity
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wife.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wife. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

wife

noun
ˈwīf How to pronounce wife (audio)
plural wives ˈwīvz How to pronounce wife (audio)
1
dialect : woman sense 1
2
: a female partner in a marriage

More from Merriam-Webster on wife

Nglish: Translation of wife for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about wife

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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