wife

1 of 2

noun (1)

ˈwīf How to pronounce wife (audio)
plural wives ˈwīvz How to pronounce wife (audio)
Synonyms of wifenext
1
a
dialect : woman
b
: a woman acting in a specified capacity
—used in combination
fishwife
2
: a female partner in a marriage
wifehood
ˈwīf-ˌhu̇d How to pronounce wife (audio)
ˈwī-ˌfu̇d
noun
wifeless
ˈwī-fləs How to pronounce wife (audio)
adjective

wifehood

2 of 2

noun (2)

wife·​hood ˈwīfˌhu̇d How to pronounce wifehood (audio)
: the quality or state of being a wife
achieved the status of wifehood

Synonyms of wife

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Noun (1)

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Examples of wife in a Sentence

Noun (1) We met him and his wife. a husband and wife who treat each other as equals in their marriage
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Prince Harry is opening up about his and wife Meghan Markle’s unexpected decision earlier this year to move back to the United Kingdom years after their dramatic fallout with the British royal family. — Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026 The plight of his followers began to emerge in mid-March 2023, when a local man told police that his brother and wife had starved their children to death in the forest on Mackenzie's orders. — Jefferson Kahinju Reuters, Arkansas Online, 20 Oct. 2026 Mackenzie’s trial began in 2023, when he was arrested and charged with murder alongside his wife and dozens of his followers, per AP. — Latoya Gayle, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2026 Bauers and his wife, Lauren Bauers, sat down with ABC News’ Will Reeve to discuss his journey, going from nearly walking away from professional baseball in 2024 to being named the National League Championship Series MVP last week. — ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for wife

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English wif, from Old English wīf; akin to Old High German wīb wife and probably to Tocharian B kwīpe female pudenda

Noun (2)

Middle English wifhod, wifhode, from Old English wīfhād womanhood, from wīf woman, wife + -hād -hood

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of wife was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing wife

Rhymes for wife

See All Rhymes for wife

Browse Nearby Words

wiesenboden
wife
wife's equity
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wife.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wife. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

wife

noun
ˈwīf How to pronounce wife (audio)
plural wives ˈwīvz How to pronounce wife (audio)
1
dialect : woman sense 1
2
: a female partner in a marriage

More from Merriam-Webster on wife

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about wife

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