significant other

noun

: a person who is important to one's well-being

especially : a spouse or one in a similar relationship

Examples of significant other in a Sentence

Before you make such an important decision, you should talk it over with your significant other. she has threatened to divorce her significant other if he doesn't stop gambling

Recent Examples on the Web One of the biggest misconceptions people have about the process is that Perel is a psychological handyman hired to fix their significant other. —

Aditi Shrikant, CNBC, 4 Sep. 2024 Taking a five-second break during an argument with your significant other could help defuse the situation, according to new research. —

Alexandra Banner, CNN, 16 Aug. 2024 It’s known as the hookup app, but plenty of people have found significant others. —

Malia Griggs, Glamour, 16 Aug. 2024 Stories are allowed to have their main female characters fall in love and include the lesson that having a six-pack doesn’t give a man the right to slap around his significant other. —

Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 8 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for significant other

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'significant other.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1940, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of significant other was in 1940

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Significant other.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/significant%20other. Accessed 11 Sep. 2024.

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