Definition

Noun: A woman whose husband spends a significant amount of his leisure time playing golf, leaving her alone. The term humorously implies a state of temporary "widowhood" due to the husband's frequent absence for the sport.

Usage

The term is used to describe a specific social situation, often with a tone of light-hearted complaint or gentle humor. It specifically refers to a wife whose husband is frequently away playing golf.

Examples

• She became a golf widow every Saturday and Sunday during the summer months.
• At the neighborhood party, the golf widows often joked about starting their own club.

Advanced Usage

• The term can be extended metaphorically to describe anyone (not necessarily a wife) who is frequently left alone because a partner or close family member is preoccupied with a hobby or activity, though "golf widow" remains the standard and most recognized form.
  • With his new obsession for online chess, I feel like a golf widow without the golf.

Variants and Related Words

• Widow (n.): A woman whose spouse has died. "Golf widow" is a humorous, non-literal play on this word.
• The construction can inspire similar informal compound nouns for other hobbies (e.g., "fishing widow," "football widow"), but "golf widow" is the most established and commonly used.

Synonyms

• There are no direct synonyms, as the term is a specific cultural idiom. Related concepts include:
  • Neglected spouse (more serious and general term).

Notes on Meaning

The term carries a specific cultural connotation, often associated with suburban or middle-class leisure. It is almost always used humorously and is not meant to describe genuine marital neglect or loss.

Noun

1. a wife who is left alone much of the time because her husband is playing golf