second gentleman

[ sek-uhnd jen-tl-muhn ]

noun

, plural sec·ond gen·tle·men.

1. Often Second Gentleman. the husband of the U.S. vice president, or the husband of a current state or local official ranking immediately below the governor or mayor:

   America's first Second Gentleman.

2. Often Second Gentleman. the husband of the second-ranking government official of any country.

Word History and Origins

Origin of second gentleman¹

First recorded in 1980–85

Example Sentences

The vice president, who shares the residence with Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, comes here with some regularity, prompting the Secret Service to divert traffic, restrict parking and take other precautions designed to keep her safe.

From Los Angeles Times

"It’s obvious this fake story was contrived by the Harris campaign to distract from the deeply concerning and newly unearthed allegations that the Second 'Gentleman,' Doug Emhoff, 'forcefully slapped' his ex-girlfriend.'"

From BBC

She knows that Harris’ husband, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, is Jewish, too, but she worries about antisemitism.

From Los Angeles Times

And during the presidential election campaign, Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff has so successfully modeled being the cheerleading husband to a powerful woman that Andy Samberg made “wife guy” supportiveness the core of his Emhoff spoof on “Saturday Night Live.”

From Los Angeles Times

“They're calling it the Kamala effect,” O’Rourke said last week during a campaign stop with Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff.

From Salon