wives
Women with husbands
Wives is the plural of wife, a woman to whom someone is married.
The word appears in contexts ranging from domestic to legal: Both wives attended the ceremony, He outlived three wives.
The phrase old wives' tale refers to a superstitious belief passed down through generations, typically by women—now used dismissively for any unfounded popular notion.
Female parents collectively
- matriarchsFemale family rulers
- daughters-in-lawSons' female spouses
- sisters-in-lawWomen wed to brothers
- stepmothersFathers' new spouses
homemakers · caregivers · nurturing · household · parenting · lineage · kinship · clan
Married male partners
- weddingMarriage rite and feast
- vowsSolemn binding promises
- nuptialsVows and rings
- brideWoman getting married
ceremony · matrimony · wedlock · union · honeymoon · anniversary · betrothal · altar
Ideal romantic matches
- helpmatesSupportive life companions
- consortsSpouses of rulers
- companionsThose who accompany
- confidantesTrusted secret-keepers
allies · counterparts · co-parents · teammates · equals · support · loyalty · trust
Multiple simultaneous wives
- haremsSecluded wives' quarters
- concubinesNon-wife sexual partners kept
- dowryMarital property transfer
- bride-pricePayment for marriage rights
matchmaking · housewives · fishwives · midwives · goodwives
mothers
Female parents collectively
- matriarchsFemale family rulers
- daughters-in-lawSons' female spouses
- sisters-in-lawWomen wed to brothers
stepmothers · homemakers · caregivers · nurturing · household · parenting · lineage · kinship · clan · relatives
husbands
Married male partners
bride · ceremony · matrimony · wedlock · union · honeymoon · anniversary · betrothal · altar · bouquet
soulmates
Ideal romantic matches
- helpmatesSupportive life companions
- consortsSpouses of rulers
- companionsThose who accompany
confidantes · allies · counterparts · co-parents · teammates · equals · support · loyalty · trust · understanding
polygyny
Multiple simultaneous wives
- haremsSecluded wives' quarters
- concubinesNon-wife sexual partners kept
- dowryMarital property transfer
bride-price · matchmaking · housewives · fishwives · midwives · goodwives
- womenmothers, women, females, gals, daughters
- comedy targetspoliticians, lawyers, in-laws, teenagers, bosses
- pluralsmen, women, feet, mice, geese
- Biblical Marriagemarriage covenant, bride, bridegroom, groom, husband
- Biblical WomenEve, Mary, Ruth, Sarah, Rachel
- haremconcubines, eunuchs, concubine, eunuch, odalisque
wivesspinsters
Unmarried women past typical marrying age
bachelorettes · maidens · divorcees · widows · ex-wives
wivesgirlfriends
Female romantic partners
mistresses · partners · lovers · concubines · companions
- old wives' taleUnfounded traditional belief
- trophy wivesAttractive partners as status symbols
- old wives taleUnverified traditional belief
- husbands and wivesMarried partners collectively
- old wivesElderly women passing lore
- wives taleTraditional unfounded belief