Search Dictionary
Definition of wife

wife

/waɪf/
wife
Plural:wives
•
Adjective:wifely
JUMP TO:

wife Lexical Profile

wife Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A married woman considered in relation to her spouse.

Example

"He introduced his wife to the new colleagues at the annual company dinner."

2

A woman, especially an older or uneducated one, or one associated with a specified occupation (now chiefly archaic, dialectal, or preserved in compound words such as 'midwife' or 'fishwife').

Example

"The village midwife was respected by every family in the valley for her calm expertise."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for wife
Antonyms
View all antonyms for wife

• Rhymes for wife

• Nearby Words

wiener
wiener neustadt
wiesbaden
wife
wifebeater
wifeless
wifely

Word Origin & Etymology

From Old English 'wīf', originally meaning any woman or female human being, derived from Proto-Germanic '*wībą'. Over the Middle English period, the word narrowed in meaning to refer specifically to a married woman, though its older general sense survives in compounds such as 'midwife' and 'fishwife'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Wife. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/wife
Built for writers, students, and competitive word game players, Wordmom combines an uncluttered English dictionary and thesaurus with fast, pattern-based word finders so you can verify definitions, synonyms, and high-scoring tile plays in one place.
Word Games & Solvers
Word FinderScrabble Word FinderWords With Friends CheatWordle SolverAnagram Solver
Dictionary & Reference
DictionarySynonymsAntonymsWords
Community
Contact UsEditorial PolicyPrivacy PolicyTerms and Conditions
© 2016–2026 Wordmom Network. All rights reserved. Made with for word lovers everywhere.
Disclaimer: SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A. and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro. Words With Friends® is a registered trademark of Zynga Inc. Wordle® is a registered trademark of The New York Times Company. Other referenced game titles and tournament lexicon codes (including NASPA NWL and WESPA/HarperCollins CSW) are trademarks of their respective owners. Wordmom is an independent reference utility for educational and entertainment purposes and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Hasbro, Mattel, Spear, Zynga, The New York Times Company, NASPA, WESPA, or HarperCollins Publishers. All game names are referenced strictly under nominative fair use to indicate compatibility.