spousal

American  

[spou-zuhl] / ˈspaʊ zəl /

noun

1. Often spousals. the ceremony of marriage; nuptials.

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adjective

1. nuptial; matrimonial.

spousal British  

/ ˈspaʊzəl /

noun

1. (often plural)

   1. the marriage ceremony

   2. a wedding

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adjective

1. of or relating to marriage

Usage

What does spousal mean? Spousal means relating to or involving marriage. The word marital can often be used to mean the same thing. Spousal is an adjective form of spouse—the person who someone is married to (their partner in marriage). A spouse who’s a man is often called a husband, while a spouse who’s a woman is often called a wife. The word partner is a gender-neutral way to refer to one’s spouse. People most commonly use one of these terms when talking about or introducing their spouse, as opposed to using the word spouse. The word spouse is more commonly used in formal or official contexts, such as on forms that require family relations to be specified. Spousal is used in terms referring to such relationships or situations involving them, such as spousal benefits and spousal counseling. Sadly, one of the most common uses of spousal is in the term spousal abuse, which specifically refers to abuse of the person that one is married to. (The broader term domestic abuse typically refers to abuse of someone within one’s household.)Much less commonly, spousal can be used as a noun, especially in the plural form spousals, meaning a marriage ceremony. The word nuptials means the same thing but is much more common. Example: Does this insurance plan provide spousal coverage?

Other Word Forms

• interspousal adjective
• interspousally adverb
• spousally adverb

Etymology

Origin of spousal

1250–1300; Middle English spousaille, aphetic variant of espousaille espousal

Example Sentences

If she is likely to receive a higher spousal benefit than her own, regardless of when she initially claimed, delaying your claim would also delay that higher benefit.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 14, 2026

Heath Hirschi wanted out of paying $2,700 a month in spousal support payments after his ex married someone his legal team called a “well-known Hollywood actor.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

During a contentious spousal support dispute in 2025, Hirschi described the “Everybody Hates Chris” veteran as “semi-retired,” Us Weekly reported in February.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

This week in the Help Me Retire column, Alessandra Malito answered questions from a man whose wife seemed to have made a mistake in claiming her own Social Security benefits instead of higher spousal benefits.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 20, 2026

Then they are wedded by grace of the abiding goddess; and having undergone the ceremony of spousal, they resume their wanderings together.

From Renaissance in Italy: Italian Literature Part 1 (of 2) by Symonds, John Addington