child wife: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2 - Very low frequency, specialized/historicalFormal, literary, historical, anthropological; often found in academic texts, historical novels, or discourse on human rights.
Quick answer
What does “child wife” mean?
A girl or very young woman married to a significantly older man.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A girl or very young woman married to a significantly older man; historically, a wife who is a child or adolescent.
Refers to the social and historical phenomenon of child marriage, often highlighting the power imbalance, lack of agency, and vulnerability of the young female. The term carries strong negative connotations of exploitation and trauma. It may also be used metaphorically to describe a woman treated with patronizing infantilization in a relationship.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. The term is equally understood in both varieties. Usage may differ in frequency of historical reference based on national history.
Connotations
Identical strong negative connotations of abuse and patriarchal oppression.
Frequency
Equally rare in both varieties, appearing in similar contexts (historical analysis, human rights reports).
Grammar
How to Use “child wife” in a Sentence
[Determiner] + child wife + [of/verb]The child wife of [older man]She was [verb, e.g., forced, made, became] a child wife.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical, sociological, anthropological, gender studies, and human rights literature to describe and critique the practice of child marriage.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation. Might appear in serious discussion of news articles about forced marriage.
Technical
Used as a specific term in legal, developmental, and humanitarian contexts (e.g., UN reports on ending child marriage).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “child wife”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “child wife”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “child wife”
- Using it as an adjective (e.g., 'a child-wife marriage' – redundant). It is a noun.
- Using it in a neutral or positive context.
- Confusing it with 'childlike wife', which refers to personality, not age.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are very close synonyms. 'Child bride' is more common and focuses on the marriage event. 'Child wife' can emphasise the ongoing status and role within the marriage.
No. The term inherently carries strong negative, critical connotations of exploitation and is inappropriate for neutral or positive description.
Not typically in domestic law. In international human rights and developmental contexts, the preferred formal terms are 'child marriage' or 'marriage involving a child'. 'Child wife' is more descriptive and literary.
It highlights the fundamental contradiction between the roles of 'child' (requiring care, protection, and development) and 'wife' (implying adult responsibilities, sexuality, and partnership), thus underscoring the abuse and lack of agency.
A girl or very young woman married to a significantly older man.
Child wife is usually formal, literary, historical, anthropological; often found in academic texts, historical novels, or discourse on human rights. in register.
Child wife: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtʃaɪld ˌwaɪf/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈtʃaɪld ˌwaɪf/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No specific idioms. The term itself functions as a conceptual unit.]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'child' and 'wife' – two words that should not belong together, highlighting the contradiction and wrongness of the concept.
Conceptual Metaphor
PROPERTY/OWNERSHIP (the child is treated as property to be acquired); VULNERABILITY IS CHILDHOOD; POWER IMBALANCE IS ADULT/CHILD DYNAMIC.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'child wife' MOST appropriately used?