Definition

Noun: A war bride is a woman who marries a foreign serviceman stationed in her country during a time of war. The term specifically refers to the bride in such a marriage, which often occurs quickly due to the imminent departure of the serviceman.

Usage

The term is used to describe a historical and social phenomenon, particularly associated with World Wars I and II. It refers to the woman who becomes a bride, not the serviceman. It is a compound noun.

Examples

• After World War II, many war brides from Europe moved to the United States to join their husbands.
• Her grandmother was a war bride who met an American soldier in London in 1944.
• The museum had an exhibit on the experiences of war brides.

Advanced Usage

• The term can be used more broadly to describe brides from any conflict, such as the Vietnam War, though it is most strongly linked to the World Wars.
• It is sometimes used in a neutral, descriptive historical context, but it can also carry connotations of the challenges these women faced, such as cultural adjustment and separation from family.

Variants and Related Words

• War bridegroom: A much less common term for a man who marries a foreign servicewoman during wartime.
• GI bride: A near-synonym specifically associated with American soldiers ("GIs").

Synonyms

• GI bride (specific to U.S. soldiers)

Notes

This is a fixed compound noun. The term specifically highlights the circumstances of the marriage (wartime) and the nationality of the groom (a foreign serviceman). It does not refer to a bride whose wedding happens to occur during a war if both parties are from the same country.

Noun

1. bride of a serviceman during wartime