English Reference

Word

fiancee

Phoneticsfi·ancee

/fiˈænsi/

Definition

n. the woman that a person is engaged to be married to. You use this word after the couple has officially decided to marry but before the wedding happens.

n. a woman to whom someone is engaged to be married. Borrowed from French; the feminine form is distinguished by the double 'e' ending.

Examples

“He introduced Sarah as his fiancee at the party.”

“After three years of dating, he finally proposed, and now his fiancee is busy planning their summer wedding.”

“While the couple had lived together for nearly a decade, the formal introduction of his fiancee to the board members signaled a new chapter in his public life.”

Examples

simple

“He introduced Sarah as his fiancee at the party.”

contextual

“After three years of dating, he finally proposed, and now his fiancee is busy planning their summer wedding.”

complex

“While the couple had lived together for nearly a decade, the formal introduction of his fiancee to the board members signaled a new chapter in his public life.”

Usage

Often spelled with an accent (fiancée) to reflect its French origin. The double 'e' ending specifically refers to a woman, whereas 'fiance' refers to a man.

Pitfall

He introduced his fiance

He introduced his fiancee

In written English, 'fiance' refers to a man and 'fiancee' refers to a woman; learners often use the single 'e' form for both.

Real-World Examples

“Johal, now 39, travelled to India to marry his fiancee in late 2017.”
The Guardian · 18 Sept 2026
“Two weeks ago, he was in New Jersey with his fiancee Valerie as she gave birth to the couple’s daughter, Noa.”
The Guardian · 18 Sept 2026

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency
Frequent
Updated

Scan code

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English Reference