fiancé
Definition
- Noun:
- A man to whom someone is engaged to be married: "fiancé" refers to a man who has formally agreed to marry a specific person and is in the period between the engagement and the wedding ceremony.
Usage Examples
- (The man she is engaged to marry.)
- (The man I am betrothed to.)
- (He accepted the engagement arrangement.)
Advanced Usage
"fiancé" vs. "fiancée": The word "fiancé" is used for a male partner, while "fiancée" (spelled with a double 'e') is used for a female partner. Both are pronounced identically in English.
- Her fiancé is a doctor. (Male partner.)
- His fiancée is a teacher. (Female partner.)
"former fiancé": refers to a person one was once engaged to but is no longer.
- She still keeps in touch with her former fiancé. (The man she was previously engaged to.)
Variants and Related Words
Fiancée (n): a woman to whom someone is engaged to be married.
- His fiancée is from Brazil. (The woman he plans to marry.)
Engagement (n): the formal agreement to marry; the period between engagement and wedding.
- Their engagement lasted for two years. (The time they were betrothed.)
Betrothed (adj/n): formally engaged to be married (a more formal or old-fashioned term).
- The betrothed couple exchanged rings. (The engaged couple.)
Synonyms
- Intended: a person one plans to marry (formal or old-fashioned).
- She introduced her intended to the family. (Her future spouse.)
- Future spouse: a person who will become a husband or wife.
- He bought a gift for his future spouse. (His fiancée.)
Related Idioms
- "to pop the question": to propose marriage.
- He popped the question during a romantic dinner, and she said yes, making him her fiancé. (He proposed formally.)
- "to tie the knot": to get married.
- The fiancé and fiancée will tie the knot next June. (They will marry.)