ENGLISH
REFERENCE

wives

n.
US //ˈwaɪvz// UK //wˈaɪvz// wives
  1. 1 plural of wife (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    more than one married woman.

    the plural form of wife, referring to two or more women in a marital relationship.

    Example

    The king had many wives who lived in the palace with him.

    Example

    In some historical cultures, it was common for powerful men to have several wives, though modern legal systems in the West generally prohibit this.

    Usage

    always used as the plural form of 'wife'

    Teacher's tip

    Learners often forget the f-to-v spelling change; group this with 'lives', 'knives', and 'leaves' to help them remember the pattern.
    Pitfall
    The two wifes went to the shop.
    The two wives went to the shop.

    Nouns ending in '-fe' like 'wife' or 'life' usually change to '-ves' in the plural.

Last updated June 19, 2026