spouses
Vow-bound pairs
Spouses is the plural of spouse—a person's husband or wife.
The word is gender-neutral and appears often in legal, institutional, and formal contexts: spouses and dependents, employees and their spouses.
It can sound stiff in casual speech, where husbands and wives or partners might feel more natural.
Legal union of spouses
- marriageFormal union between partners
- ceremonyFormal event marking occasions
- nuptialsVows and rings
- vowsSolemn binding promises
altar · bride · groom · wedlock · betrothal · union · reception · honeymoon
Solemn binding promises
- fidelityLoyalty or exactness
- faithfulnessDevoted loyalty maintained
- devotionDeep, loyal commitment
- loyaltyFaithful commitment to another
bond · obligation · monogamy · dedication · pledge · promise · constancy · steadfastness
Married man's role
- wifeFemale marriage partner
- breadwinnerPrimary household earner
- homemakerOne who manages a household
- caregiverOne providing daily assistance
provider · co-parent · consort · mate · helpmeet · partner · dependent · beneficiary
Warm emotional attachment
- intimacyEmotional closeness between people
- romanceLove and its excitement
- passionIntense emotional drive
- devotionDeep, loyal commitment
tenderness · cherish · adore · fondness · attachment · endearment · ardor · sweetheart
One who shares activity
- companionOne who keeps company
- confidantTrusted keeper of secrets
- soulmateDeeply compatible life partner
- helpmateSupportive life partner
teammate · support · togetherness · friendship · ally · cohabitation · co-parent · housemate
matrimony
Legal union of spouses
vows · altar · bride · groom · wedlock · betrothal · union · reception · honeymoon · bridesmaids
vows
Solemn binding promises
- fidelityLoyalty or exactness
- faithfulnessDevoted loyalty maintained
- devotionDeep, loyal commitment
loyalty · bond · obligation · monogamy · dedication · pledge · promise · constancy · steadfastness · honor
husband
Married man's role
- wifeFemale marriage partner
- breadwinnerPrimary household earner
- homemakerOne who manages a household
caregiver · provider · co-parent · consort · mate · helpmeet · partner · dependent · beneficiary · guardian
affection
Warm emotional attachment
- intimacyEmotional closeness between people
- romanceLove and its excitement
- passionIntense emotional drive
devotion · tenderness · cherish · adore · fondness · attachment · endearment · ardor · sweetheart · amour
partner
One who shares activity
- companionOne who keeps company
- confidantTrusted keeper of secrets
- soulmateDeeply compatible life partner
helpmate · teammate · support · togetherness · friendship · ally · cohabitation · co-parent · housemate
family
Related people together
parents · household · lineage · clan · descendants · progeny · heritage · ancestors · bloodline · genealogy
- householdshousehold, nuclear family, residents, married couple, occupants
- partnerspartners, partner, business partners, business partner, associates
- romantic pairscouples, newlyweds, love birds, soulmates
- lifelong matesswans, albatross, albatrosses, wolves, gibbons
- family termsparents, nuclear family, mothers, extended family, fathers
- peoplepeople, persons, person, individuals, humans
spousessingles
Unattached individuals
bachelors · bachelorettes · divorcees · exes · spinsters
spousesstrangers
People unknown to you
acquaintances · colleagues · friends · coworkers · roommates
spousespartners
Joint venture participants
domestic partners · live-in partners · lovers · significant others · companions
- work spousePlatonic professional confidant
- military spousePartner of servicemember
- cheating spouseUnfaithful marriage partner
- spousal abuseHarm inflicted by partner
- battered spousePartner subjected to violence
- common-law spouseLegally recognized unmarried partner
spouse, espouse, espousal, spousal, espoused, spouseless, espousing, espouses