# husband

/ˈhəzbənd/ (US) · /hˈʌsbənd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/husband
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. married man

noun · CEFR A1

the man that a person is married to.

For teachers: a male partner in a marriage or marital relationship.

- She lives in London with her husband and their two young children.
- After twenty years of marriage, her husband decided to retire early so they could travel across Europe together.

### 2. to use carefully

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to use something, like money or supplies, very carefully so that you do not waste it.

For teachers: to manage or administer resources with prudence and frugality to ensure they last.

- The hikers had to husband their limited water supply during the long desert trek.
- The small nation must husband its natural resources carefully if it hopes to maintain economic independence over the next decade.

Usage: This is a transitive verb that always requires a direct object, such as 'resources' or 'finances'.

### 3. a cushion

noun · CEFR B2 · American English

a large, firm cushion with arms that supports you while you sit up in bed.

For teachers: a large pillow with armrests designed to support the back and sides of a person in a seated position.

- He leaned back against his husband pillow to read a book before sleeping.
- She bought a plush husband for her dorm room so she could study comfortably while sitting on her bed.

## Examples

- Her husband works at the local hospital.
- After the wedding ceremony, the couple introduced themselves as husband and wife to their gathered friends and family.
- While the legal definition of a husband has remained constant, the social expectations regarding his role in domestic labor have shifted significantly over the last century.

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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.