What does spousal mean?
Spousal is an adjective meaning connected with a spouse or with marriage. It can describe relationships, obligations, rights, benefits, and conduct, as in spousal support, spousal abuse, or spousal privilege. The word is especially common in legal, financial, governmental, and formal social contexts, where precise distinctions about marital rights and responsibilities matter. In everyday speech, married or marital may sound more natural, but spousal is useful when referring directly to the legal or personal relationship between spouses rather than simply describing someone as married. It is not restricted to married couples in the sense of a particular gender or sexual orientation; its use is determined by the relevant legal or social context.
adjectiveRelating to a spouse or to marriage between spouses. It describes qualities, relationships, rights, or obligations connected with a husband or wife.
- Relating to a spouse or to marriage between spouses.
"The court considered the couple's spousal support obligations before dividing their assets."
"She sought advice on a contentious spousal support dispute."
"The agreement addressed property division and other spousal rights."
Spousal turns the person you marry into a legal and social relationship, which is why it appears in contracts, court rulings, and discussions of marriage rights.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does spousal come from?
Spousal was formed in the 19th century from spouse, an inherited English word ultimately related to Old French spouse, from Latin sponsus, meaning a betrothed person or husband. The suffix -al was added in the pattern of English adjectives such as marital and general. The same Latin root also underlies words including sponsor andponsorship, although those words developed in a separate semantic direction.
Related word forms
How spousal is actually used
Spousal is primarily a formal or legal adjective. It is less common in everyday conversation than married or marital and is especially frequent in legal, financial, and policy contexts.
Easily confused with spousal
A spouse is a person married to someone else, whereas spousal is an adjective describing something relating to a spouse or marriage.