espousal

American  

[ih-spou-zuhl, -suhl] / ɪˈspaʊ zəl, -səl /

noun

1. adoption or advocacy, as of a cause or principle.

2. Sometimes espousals.

   1. a marriage ceremony.

   2. an engagement or betrothal celebration.

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espousal British  

/ ɪˈspaʊzəl /

noun

1. adoption or support

   an espousal of new beliefs

2. archaic (sometimes plural) a marriage or betrothal ceremony

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Other Word Forms

• nonespousal noun

Etymology

Origin of espousal

1275–1325; Middle English espousaille < Middle French, Old French espousailles < Latin spōnsālia (noun use of neuter plural of spōnsālis ), equivalent to spōns ( us ) spouse + -ālia -al ²

Explanation

When you speak up in favor of something or support a cause, that's espousal. Your espousal of energy conservation can be seen in your electric car and the solar panels on your house. Espousal of one political candidate over another can be expressed with a sign in your yard or a big financial contribution to the campaign. During a debate, each person adopts the espousal of one strong viewpoint and then they argue with each other. In the old days, an espousal was an engagement or a wedding — gaining a spouse, in other words. This is the original meaning, with the figurative "married to principles" definition dating from about 1670.

Example Sentences

“This repertoire — with its contrapuntal extravaganzas, its antiphonal balances, its espousal of instruments that chuff and wheeze and speak directly to a microphone — was made for stereo,” he wrote.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2024

As Travis Adkins and Judd Devermont recently pointed out in Foreign Policy, Cold Warriors both Black and White were painfully aware of the contradictions of their ringing espousal of freedom.

From Washington Post • Sep. 3, 2020

A recent study found the espousal of conspiracy theories, pseudoscience and belief in the paranormal turn out to be highly correlated with one another.

From The Guardian • Sep. 10, 2018

Typically the schools honored Mr. Cosby for his success as an entertainer, as well as his pronounced support for education and his espousal of the sort of bootstraps perseverance that would serve young graduates well.

From New York Times • Oct. 6, 2015

My diplomatic appeal to the English Government would have been of no avail but for the wonderful espousal of our cause by the whole British Press.

From The Traitors by Oppenheim, E. Phillips (Edward Phillips)