work spouse
Platonic workplace partner
A work spouse is a close colleague of the opposite sex (or sometimes the same sex) with whom one shares a bond resembling marriage—confiding, collaborating, eating lunch together, providing emotional support—without romantic involvement.
The term playfully acknowledges the intimacy that develops when people spend forty-plus hours a week together: My work spouse reminds me about meetings I'd otherwise forget.
One who shares activity
- confidantTrusted keeper of secrets
- allySupportive partner
- desk mateAdjacent seating partner
- counterpartCorresponding person or thing
sidekick · comrade · companion · teammate · collaborator · co-conspirator · better half · other half
Friend for midday meals
- coffee runsTrips to get brewed drinks
- inside jokesHumor requiring shared context
- commiserationPity expressed for suffering
- ventingReleasing emotion verbally
gossip · banter · camaraderie · rapport · companionship · friendship · intimacy · connection
Co-assigned collaborator
- calendar syncUnifying multiple appointment systems
- office politicsPower dynamics at work
- corporate cultureShared workplace values, norms
- nine-to-fiveRegular office schedule
Support spurring continued effort
- backingAid or sponsorship
- advocatePublic cause supporter
- championTop competitor, or advocate
- sounding boardListener who gives feedback
emotional support · reassurance · advice · guidance · loyalty · reliability · trust · dependability
partner
One who shares activity
counterpart · sidekick · comrade · companion · teammate · collaborator · co-conspirator · better half · other half · partner-in-crime
lunch buddy
Friend for midday meals
- coffee runsTrips to get brewed drinks
- inside jokesHumor requiring shared context
- commiserationPity expressed for suffering
venting · gossip · banter · camaraderie · rapport · companionship · friendship · intimacy · connection · chemistry
project partner
Co-assigned collaborator
- calendar syncUnifying multiple appointment systems
- office politicsPower dynamics at work
- corporate cultureShared workplace values, norms
nine-to-five · colleague · team dynamics · collaboration · breakroom
encouragement
Support spurring continued effort
sounding board · emotional support · reassurance · advice · guidance · loyalty · reliability · trust · dependability · understanding
- Workplace Tiescolleague, boss, supervisor, employee, subordinate
- bondsbond, corporate bond, corporate bonds, government bond, municipal bond
- chosen familychosen family, found family, framily, kindred spirits, adopted family
- unsolicited advisorsbackseat driver, armchair expert, busybody, meddler, know-it-all
work spouselegal spouse
Lawfully married partner
husband · wife · domestic partner · life partner · romantic partner
work spousecasual acquaintance
work, spouse, works, worked, working, worker, workers, workable, coworker