significant other

noun

: a person who is important to one's well-being
especially : a spouse or one in a similar relationship

Examples of significant other in a Sentence

Before you make such an important decision, you should talk it over with your significant other. she has threatened to divorce her significant other if he doesn't stop gambling
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
The influence of Saturn, however, emphasizes the boundaries or lack thereof between you and a significant other. Valerie Mesa, People.com, 4 Nov. 2024 Mars—which has been agitating you during its two-month stay in Cancer so far—completes its opposition with Pluto on November 3, bringing things to a boil between you and a significant other. Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Oct. 2024 The best way to show your friend, family member, or significant other that? Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 17 Oct. 2024 Our tendency to rewrite the past can annoy our friends and significant others. Joshua Rothman, The New Yorker, 15 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for significant other 

Word History

First Known Use

1940, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of significant other was in 1940

Dictionary Entries Near significant other

Cite this Entry

“Significant other.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/significant%20other. Accessed 19 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

significant other

noun
significant oth·​er -ˈət͟h-ər How to pronounce significant other (audio)
: a person who is important to one's well-being
especially : a spouse or one in a similar relationship
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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