# trophy wife

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/trophy-wife
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A wife, usually young and attractive, regarded as a status symbol for her husband, usually older and affluent.

## Examples

- He likes to show off his trophy wife at every party.
- The retired athlete marries a trophy wife to improve his public image.
- The wealthy businessman was often seen at high-society events accompanied by his much younger trophy wife.
- She hated the way the media treated her as a trophy wife just because her husband owned a famous tech company.
- After his divorce, the billionaire looked for a trophy wife who would look perfect in photos during his political campaign.
- Critics often dismissed her professional accomplishments, unfairly labeling her as nothing more than a trophy wife for her influential husband.

## Origin

The term was popularised in 1989 by the journalist Julie Connelly within a cover story for Fortune magazine. It was constructed by analogy with the real estate industry's use of trophy building, a term for a property of such high status that it serves primarily as a public display of the owner’s wealth.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.