significant other: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
HighFormal to Neutral
Quick answer
What does “significant other” mean?
A person's romantic partner, especially a long-term partner such as a husband, wife, boyfriend, or girlfriend.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person's romantic partner, especially a long-term partner such as a husband, wife, boyfriend, or girlfriend.
A person with whom one has a committed, intimate relationship, often used as a gender-neutral or non-marriage-specific term. Can also refer to a partner in a serious, long-term relationship regardless of marital status or gender.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is very similar in both varieties. Slightly more common in American English, where it is a standard term in official forms and surveys. In British English, 'partner' is often equally or more frequent in everyday speech.
Connotations
In both varieties, it connotes seriousness and commitment. In American English, it can sound slightly more formal or bureaucratic. In British English, it may be perceived as a deliberate attempt to be inclusive or neutral.
Frequency
High frequency in both, but 'partner' is a more frequent direct synonym in UK English across most registers.
Grammar
How to Use “significant other” in a Sentence
[Possessive] + significant otherthe + significant other + of + [NP]significant other + [Relative Clause]Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in HR policies, benefits forms, and invitations to company events (e.g., 'Spouses and significant others are invited to the annual dinner').
Academic
Used in sociology and psychology research to denote a primary romantic partner in studies on relationships.
Everyday
Used in conversation to refer to one's partner without specifying marital status or gender (e.g., 'I'll check with my significant other').
Technical
Used in legal, medical, and survey contexts as an inclusive category for a person's primary romantic partner.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “significant other”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “significant other”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “significant other”
- Using it for a casual date or someone you've just started seeing (it implies commitment).
- Using 'a significant other' without a possessive (e.g., 'I am a significant other' is odd; it's typically 'I am someone's significant other').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is used for any committed romantic partner, regardless of marital status, legal recognition, or gender.
Yes, it is perfectly acceptable and commonly used in formal, academic, and bureaucratic contexts as an inclusive term.
They are largely synonymous. 'Partner' can also refer to business associates, while 'significant other' is exclusively romantic. 'Significant other' can sound slightly more formal or American.
It is less common. The term is most naturally used with a possessive (my, your, his, her, their) because it describes a specific person's relationship.
A person's romantic partner, especially a long-term partner such as a husband, wife, boyfriend, or girlfriend.
Significant other: in British English it is pronounced /sɪɡˌnɪf.ɪ.kənt ˈʌð.ər/, and in American English it is pronounced /sɪɡˌnɪf.ə.kənt ˈʌð.ɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “My better half”
- “The other half”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: The person who is SIGNIFICANT (important) and is your OTHER (partner) half.
Conceptual Metaphor
RELATIONSHIP IS A WHOLE (where the partner is the 'other' part completing the self).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'significant other' LEAST appropriate?