spouse
n. countablen. the person someone is married to. It is a formal way to say husband or wife.
n. a partner in a marriage or civil union. Often used in legal, medical, or formal administrative contexts to refer to a partner regardless of gender.
Employees may bring a spouse to the holiday party.
The insurance policy provides coverage for both the primary policyholder and their legal spouse.
While 'husband' and 'wife' are more common in casual conversation, 'spouse' remains the standard term in legislative drafting to ensure gender neutrality and legal precision.
From Middle English spous, spouse, from Anglo-Norman espus m, espuse f and Old French espos m, espose f and by aphesis from Latin spōnsus m (“bridegroom”), spōnsa f (“bride”), from spondeō (“to vow, pledge”), from Proto-Indo-European *spend-. Displaced native Old English ġemaca. Related to espouse and sponsor.
Commonly used in formal documents and official forms rather than in everyday speech.