first gentleman: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Political, Journalistic, Official
Quick answer
What does “first gentleman” mean?
The husband or male partner of a female head of state or government.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The husband or male partner of a female head of state or government.
The male spouse of a woman serving as president, prime minister, governor, or mayor; a title of courtesy and protocol given to the husband of a female leader, analogous to 'First Lady' for the female spouse of a male leader.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Used in both varieties, but is more frequently encountered in American English due to the modern history of female presidential candidates and vice-presidential spouses. In the UK, the wife of a male Prime Minister is often called the 'Prime Minister's wife', not a formal 'First Lady', making 'First Gentleman' even more hypothetical.
Connotations
Carries strong connotations of modernity, breaking gender norms, and political symbolism. It is not a traditional, established role like 'First Lady'.
Frequency
Very low frequency. Its use is almost entirely confined to speculative political reporting, historical accounts of female leaders, or official descriptions of a current female leader's spouse.
Grammar
How to Use “first gentleman” in a Sentence
First Gentleman + of + [Country/State/City]the + First Gentlemanbe + appointed/named/called + First GentlemanVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in political science, gender studies, and history texts discussing roles of political spouses.
Everyday
Rarely used in casual conversation; would be used when specifically discussing the spouse of a female leader.
Technical
A protocol title used in government and diplomatic communications.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “first gentleman”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “first gentleman”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “first gentleman”
- Using 'First Lord' (a different UK title). Using it for the male spouse of a female monarch (he is a Prince Consort or King Consort, not First Gentleman).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a courtesy and protocol title, not a paid government position. The role is largely ceremonial and symbolic.
No, the U.S. has not yet had an elected female president, so the title has not been used. However, the husbands of female state governors have been referred to as First Gentlemen.
A queen's husband is typically titled 'Prince Consort' (like Prince Philip) or, in some cases, 'King Consort' (a rarer title). 'First Gentleman' is specific to elected or appointed heads of government/republics.
Protocol varies. For a long-term, unmarried partner, terms like 'First Partner' or 'First Gentleman' (in quotes) are sometimes used by the media, but it is less formal and not standardized.
The husband or male partner of a female head of state or government.
First gentleman is usually formal, political, journalistic, official in register.
First gentleman: in British English it is pronounced /ˌfɜːst ˈdʒentlmən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌfɜrst ˈdʒɛn(t)lmən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'First Lady' but for a man. If the FIRST person is a woman, her GENTLEMAN partner holds this title.
Conceptual Metaphor
TITLE IS A CONTAINER FOR PROTOCOL (the 'First' container holds the ceremonial role of the 'Gentleman').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'First Gentleman' most accurately used?