plus-one

noun

ˈpləs-ˈwən 

: a person who accompanies an invited guest to an event or gathering at which guests are allowed to bring a companion or partner

My husband twice received handsome engraved invitations to presidential dinners. For those events and many others, I was the perpetual plus-one.

—Ana Marie Cox

Examples of plus-one in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Somebody’s plus-one guest and too shy to speak to her, I was relieved when Hallote, who had winningly old-fashioned manners, drew me out. —Linda Hall, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2025

In the comments section, Redditors had mixed opinions on the plus-one situation. —Erin Clack, People.com, 7 Mar. 2025

Politicians historically have used their State of the Union plus-ones to promote or protest federal policies. —Jessica Boehm, Axios, 1 Mar. 2025

The year after Parasite, due to COVID, the Oscars were held at L.A.’s Union Station, with only the nominees and presenters, and their plus-ones, in attendance. —Scott Feinberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1977, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for plus-one

• begun
• grandson
• gudrun
• handgun
• homespun
• outdone
• outrun
• pashtun
• redone
• rerun
• shotgun
• someone