DictionaryAI

wife

WYF/waɪf/

Pluralwives

Verbwifes, wifing, wifed

4 meanings of wife

Practice

  1. 1
    married womannouncountable
    The woman someone is married to, or any woman who is married.

    My wife teaches music at a nearby school.

    The men brought their wives to the office party.

    UsageOne wife, two wives (not incorrect: wifes).

    Similarspouse, partner

    Oppositehusband

    Note
  2. 2
    marryverbcolloquialtransitive
    To marry a woman and take her as a partner for life.

    He wants to wife her as soon as he can afford a home.

    He finally wifed the woman he had loved for years.

    Similarwive

    Note
  3. 3
    animal matenouncountable
    The female animal in a pair that has mated.

    The male bird gathers twigs to build a nest for his wife.

    The duck with the shiny green head swam after his wife.

    Similarmate

    Note

Less common meaning

  1. 4
    womannoundialectalScotlandcountable
    A woman of any age, whether married or not.

    'Some wife at the bus stop asked me the time,' Jamie said.

    There's a wife at the door selling raffle tickets, Gran.

    Similarwoman

    Note

Practice

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Origin

It comes from Old English "wīf," meaning "woman" or "wife." It goes back to an older Germanic word, but where that word came from is unknown.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts