General
work spouse
What does work spouse mean?
A coworker with whom one shares an especially close, supportive, platonic bond resembling a marriage in its familiarity and mutual reliance, minus the romance.
"Losing his work spouse to another company made the office feel unbearable."
Origin
Office slang that gained popularity in the 2000s.
Frequently asked questions
What is a 'work spouse'?
It's a coworker you share an especially close, supportive, platonic bond with, resembling a marriage in familiarity and reliance but without the romance.
Is a work spouse a romantic relationship?
No. The term specifically describes a close, non-romantic friendship; the 'spouse' part refers only to the closeness and mutual reliance.
Are there gendered versions?
Yes, people often say 'work wife' or 'work husband' for the same idea.
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