husbandwife
Husbandwife is a neologism that blends the words husband and wife to denote the married couple as a unit or the marriage itself, rather than focusing on the two individuals separately. The term is not standard in formal usage, but it appears in some sociolinguistic discussions, commentary, and informal writing as a descriptive shorthand.
Origin and usage: The coinage lacks a single identifiable origin and has appeared sporadically in English-language
Linguistic status and scope: As a compound noun, husbandwife functions mainly as a stylistic device. In legal,
Criticism and alternatives: Some readers view the term as informal or gendered, and as a device that
See also: husband and wife; marriage; spouse; domestic partnership.