A spouse is a significant other in a marriage, civil union, or common-law marriage. The term is gender neutral, whereas a male spouse is a husband and a female spouse is a wife.

Is a boyfriend a spouse?

“Boyfriend” and “girlfriend” can cover a wide range of points with a relationship's progression. ... A spouse is different, from a legal perspective than an unmarried romantic partner, regardless of how long they've been together or what their relationship is like.

Does spouse mean married?

Someone's spouse is the person who they're 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.