What does wifes mean?
“Wifes” has two very different statuses in English. As a noun, it is almost always a nonstandard spelling of “wives,” the plural of “wife.” The intended meaning is therefore “women who are married to someone,” rather than a separate grammatical form. Correct usage can include the plural possessive “the wives' books,” whereas “the wifes of the soldiers” is not standard. The same spelling, however, can be the third-person singular present of the rare informal verb “wife,” meaning “to marry a woman” or “to make her one's wife.” The form is chiefly conversational and much less common than the noun. Knowing the distinction helps readers recognize the ordinary plural “wives,” the plural possessive “wives',” and the exceptional verb form “wifes.” For most people, “wifes” is worth learning as a spelling warning rather than as a new standard word.
A nonstandard spelling of “wives,” meaning the plural of “wife.”
"The novel portrays the wifes of three naval officers."
This spelling is normally considered incorrect in standard British and American English; write “wives” instead.
The third-person singular present of the informal verb “wife,” meaning to marry a woman or make her one's wife.
"He wifes a veterinarian in the final episode."
This is a rare, chiefly informal and conversational use of the verb.
“Wives” is the standard plural of “wife.” The form “wifes” without an apostrophe is nonstandard, while “wives'” is the plural possessive.
"The biographies describe the wives of several prominent leaders."
There is no apostrophe in “wives”; the plural possessive is “wives'.”
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of wifes
The underlying noun “wife” comes from Old English “wīf,” meaning “woman” or “wife,” and is inherited from a Germanic root reflected in cognates such as German “Weib” and Dutch “wijf.” Middle English had plural forms including “wifes,” from which the modern standard plural “wives” developed. The modern apostrophe in the possessive “wives'” is separate from the plural and does not belong in the ordinary plural form.
Related word forms
How wifes is actually used
In standard British and American English, use “wives” for the plural and “wives'” for the plural possessive. “Wifes” without an apostrophe is normally a spelling error; it is also the form of a rare informal verb.
Easily confused with wifes
“Wives” is the standard plural of “wife,” whereas “wifes” without an apostrophe is normally an error.