French word

conjoint

Pronunciation

IPA/kɔ̃ʒwɛ̃/

Meaning

  • masculine nounspouse

Example

Mon conjoint est médecin.

My spouse is a doctor.

Illustration for conjoint (spouse)

More examples

Son conjoint est en voyage d'affaires.

His spouse is on a business trip.

Core concept

Two lives linked as one recognized household or partnership.

Common phrases

  • mon conjoint

    my spouse

  • son conjoint

    his spouse

  • conjoint de fait

    common-law spouse

Similar words

mari: A married man who has a wife.
épouse: A married woman who has a husband.

Definition in French

Personne considérée comme partenaire légal ou de fait, employé surtout dans les contextes officiels.

Word origin

The French noun conjoint developed from the Latin participle coniunctus through the idea of people joined in a lasting union.

Usage tips

  • Conjoint is especially common in official or administrative language, while partenaire often sounds more neutral in everyday speech.

Other meanings

  • husbandnoun
  • wifenoun
  • partnernoun

Opposites

Related words

  • conjugalmaritaladjective
  • conjointementjointlyadverb

Word lists with this word