Wife

A wife is a woman who is married to a husband or to another spouse. The word originates from the Old English wīf, meaning “woman” or “female,” and over time came to refer specifically to a married woman. In many languages the term similarly designates a female spouse, though cultural definitions of marriage vary widely.

In legal terms, a wife typically shares many rights and duties with her husband within marriage. These can include mutual financial support, joint ownership or management of property, and decisions about children. Legal recognition of a wife’s status affects inheritance, taxation, immigration, and parental authority in many jurisdictions. Historical practices such as dowry or bride price reflect cultural variation in how marriage and spousal rights are arranged.

Cultural norms surrounding wives have differed greatly across societies and eras. Some traditions have emphasized designated domestic roles, while modern frameworks increasingly promote equal partnership and individual autonomy within marriage. The rise of civil and same-sex marriages in many places has broadened the meaning of “wife” to include female spouses in different kinds of unions. In official documents, “spouse” is often used as a gender-neutral term.

Non-marital concepts related to the term exist in some legal systems, such as “common-law wife” for a long-term cohabiting partner, with rights that vary by jurisdiction. The concept of a wife remains a central element in discussions of family, gender, and citizenship, reflecting both historical practices and contemporary changes in intimate partnerships.