milspouse

[ mil-spous ]

noun

, Informal.

1. the wife, husband, or life partner of an active member of the armed forces (sometimes used attributively):

   It’s a collection of letters and journal entries written by more than 250 U.S. milspouses during 2001–2021.

   College tuition and job placement services are among numerous milspouse benefits.

Word History and Origins

Origin of milspouse¹

First recorded in 2000–05; blend of military ( def ) and spouse ( def )

Example Sentences

Yes, I served, but turning in my “milspouse” badge feels more like the end of a messy love affair, and not the storied Marine farewell.

From New York Times

I’m more than happy to introduce folks to the milspouse brew: we like to think of ourselves as part Wonder Woman and part Katniss Everdeen, with a dash of Lisbeth Salander.

From New York Times

Maybe in the future a milspouse will write a front-page story about her successful career that was facilitated by the efforts of Mrs. Obama, Dr. Biden and the countless organizations and individuals who are trying to make a difference in career options for military families.

From New York Times

Today, our relatively normal “milspouse” world was shattered with the news that one of us would bury her Marine.

From New York Times

“The milspouse world has been rocked by a message from a fellow military wife who decided that her pain was too great,” Karen Francis wrote on the blog “Milspouse Mutterings,” encouraging her own readers to send cards to Ms. Harp.

From New York Times