husband
HUHZ-buhnd
Husband (noun) means a man who is married to someone. Example: “My husband cooks dinner every Sunday while I sit and read.”
noun
1
A man who is married to someone.
"My husband cooks dinner every Sunday while I sit and read."
"Her husband picked her up from the airport."
"They've been husband and wife for over twenty years."
verb
1
To manage resources carefully and economically.
"She husbanded her energy during the long hike so she could finish strongly."
"We must husband our savings carefully until the new job begins."
"The farmers husbanded their water supply through the drought."
How to use husband
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA married man, in relation to his spouse. As a verb (less common today), it means to use resources sparingly and wisely.
Common pairings
husband and wife
her husband
husband resources
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Word forms
- Plural
- husbands
- Third person singular
- husbands
- Past tense
- husbanded
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My _____ cooks dinner every Sunday while I sit and read.
Etymology
From Old English husbonda, a compound of hus ("house") and a form of the Old Norse word for a resident or master — originally meaning "master of the house," long before it narrowed to mean specifically a married man.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for husband
See all rhymes for husband →Frequently asked questions
What does “husband” mean?
The word “husband” means a man who is married to someone. In plain terms, a married man, in relation to his spouse. As a verb (less common today), it means to use resources sparingly and wisely.
How do you pronounce “husband”?
“Husband” is pronounced HUHZ-buhnd (/ˈhʌzbənd/ in IPA).
How do you use “husband” in a sentence?
Here is “husband” used in a sentence: “Her husband picked her up from the airport.”
What is another word for “husband”?
Words with a similar meaning to “husband” include baron, his lordship, hubby, lord and master and old man.
What is the opposite of “husband”?
The opposite of “husband” — its antonyms — is wife.
What part of speech is “husband”?
Depending on how it is used, “husband” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “husband” come from?
The word “husband” comes from Old English. From Old English husbonda, a compound of hus ("house") and a form of the Old Norse word for a resident or master — originally meaning "master of the house," long before it narrowed to mean specifically a married man.
Is “husband” a common word?
“Husband” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between a husband and a spouse?
'Husband' specifically means a married man. 'Spouse' is a gender-neutral term for either married partner — a husband or a wife. So a husband is always a spouse, but 'spouse' is the broader word, useful on forms and in law when the person's gender is unspecified or irrelevant.
What is the difference between a husband and a partner?
A husband is a man joined to someone by marriage. A 'partner' is a broader term for someone in a committed relationship, married or not, and it does not specify gender. People often say 'partner' before marriage, for unmarried couples, or simply to keep a relationship's details private.
What is the opposite of husband?
In a marriage, the counterpart to a husband is a wife — a woman who is married to someone. 'Husband' and 'wife' are the traditional paired terms for the two people in a marriage. The neutral word covering either role is 'spouse,' and together they form a married couple.
Where does the word 'husband' come from?
'Husband' comes from an old Norse word meaning 'master of the house' or 'householder,' combining the sense of 'house' with someone who dwells in or manages it. Over time its meaning narrowed from a male head of a household to specifically a married man, the sense used today.
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