verb

espouse

ih-SPOWZ

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Espouse (verb) means to adopt a belief, cause or way of life and openly support it. Example: “The party espoused free trade long before it became popular.”

verb

To adopt a belief, cause or way of life and openly support it.

"The party espoused free trade long before it became popular."

"He espouses a simplicity he does not practise at home."

archaic To marry someone.

"She was espoused to a cousin she had never met."

How to use espouse

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo publicly support an idea or cause.

When to use it

Formal, mostly written. Very common in political and academic prose; you would rarely say it in conversation.

Memory tip

Espouse takes an idea or cause as its object, not a person or product. You espouse a philosophy but endorse a candidate.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

espouse vs expouse (misspelling) espouse vs endorse

Common pairings

espouse a cause espouse the view that espouse principles publicly espouse

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Test yourself on “espouse” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The party _____ free trade long before it became popular.

Etymology

From Old French espouser, from Latin sponsare 'to betroth', from spondere 'to promise'. The sense of committing oneself to a cause grew out of the older sense of committing oneself in marriage.

Origin: French

Synonyms

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adopt support champion embrace advocate marry wed conjoin follow

Antonyms

reject renounce abandon

Related words

support follow save choose protect lawyer maintain empty

Rhymes for espouse

use muse ruse fuse abuse mouse cause house louse pause amuse douse

See all rhymes for espouse →

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between espouse and endorse?

To espouse a view is to take it on as your own and argue for it over time. To endorse something is to give it your public approval, often briefly and often for someone else's benefit, as when a celebrity endorses a brand. Espousing implies belief; endorsing only implies backing.

Is espouse related to spouse?

Yes, directly. Both go back to Latin spondere 'to promise' by way of the word for a betrothed person, and espouse originally meant to marry. The modern meaning keeps the idea of a binding public commitment, transferred from a person to a cause.

Can you espouse a person?

Only in the old marriage sense, which now reads as deliberately archaic. In current English the object of espouse is an idea, doctrine, principle or cause.

What is the meaning of espouse?

"espouse" (verb) means to adopt a belief, cause or way of life and openly support it.

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support follow save choose protect lawyer maintain empty