Word
bridegroom
Phoneticsbride·groom, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈbɹaɪdˌɡɹum/
UK/bɹˈaɪdɡɹuːm/
Countable noun Formal
Definition
n. the man who is about to get married or who has just married. It is a slightly more formal or traditional word for a groom.
n. a man who is about to be married or who has recently married. Often used in formal or literary contexts to distinguish the male partner in a wedding.
Examples
“The bridegroom waited nervously at the altar.”
“After the ceremony, the bridegroom gave a short speech to thank his guests for attending the wedding.”
“The poet describes the bridegroom as a figure of quiet resolve, standing in stark contrast to the jubilant chaos of the wedding festivities unfolding around him.”
Examples
simple
“The bridegroom waited nervously at the altar.”
contextual
“After the ceremony, the bridegroom gave a short speech to thank his guests for attending the wedding.”
complex
“The poet describes the bridegroom as a figure of quiet resolve, standing in stark contrast to the jubilant chaos of the wedding festivities unfolding around him.”
Etymology
From Middle English brydgrome, bridegome, from Old English brȳdguma, from Proto-Germanic *brūdigumô; equivalent to Old English brȳd (“bride”) + guma (“man”). Altered by folk etymology to end with groom, with it re-analyzed as or influenced by grom, grome (“attendant”), as guma was obsolete. Cognate with Saterland Frisian Brüüdicham, Dutch bruidegom, Afrikaans bruidegom, German Low German Brödigam, Brüdigam, Brögam, Brügam, Plautdietsch Briegaum, German Bräutigam, Norwegian Bokmål brudgom, Norwegian Nynorsk brudgom, Danish brudgom, Swedish brudgum, Icelandic brúðgumi, Faroese brúðgómur.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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