Wife vs. Wive — What's the Difference?
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By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on September 26, 2023
"Wife" is a noun referring to a married woman. "Wive" is a verb meaning to marry a woman or take a woman as a wife.
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Difference Between Wife and Wive
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Key Differences
Another significant distinction between "Wife" and "Wive" is the frequency of their application. "Wife" is a prevalent term in everyday language, signifying a married woman, whereas "Wive" is rarer and might be found in older literary works or in poetic contexts.
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Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 26, 2023
In summary, while both "Wife" and "Wive" pertain to marriage and the role of a woman within it, "Wife" acts as a noun designating a married woman, and "Wive" functions as a verb implying the act of marrying a woman.
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Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 26, 2023
"Wife" and "Wive" are terms that are closely related in terms of their connection to marital relationships, but they belong to different grammatical categories and have distinct uses. "Wife" is a noun, and it specifically denotes a woman who is married. The term encapsulates the societal and relational role that a woman assumes upon entering a marital bond. For instance, when a man refers to his wife, he's mentioning the woman he's married to.
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Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 26, 2023
On the other hand, "Wive" operates as a verb. It carries the action of marrying a woman or taking a woman as a wife. Historically, the term was more commonly utilized, particularly in contexts where a man would "wive" a woman, essentially marrying her. The usage of "Wive" in modern English is somewhat archaic, and it's less commonly encountered than its noun counterpart, "Wife."
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Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 26, 2023
Comparison Chart
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Definitions
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Wive
To bestow in marriage.
The noble planned to wive his daughter to the knight.
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Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 26, 2023
Wife
A lady married to a particular man.
The businessman's wife accompanied him.
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Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 26, 2023
Wive
To provide with a wife.
The story tells of a prince who is wived through a magical spell.
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Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 26, 2023
Wife
A wife is a woman in a marriage. A woman who has separated from her partner continues to be a wife until the marriage legally dissolves with a divorce judgement.
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Tayyaba Rehman
Aug 20, 2018
Wife
A married woman, especially in relation to her spouse.
The Fisherman and His Wife
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Tayyaba Rehman
Aug 20, 2018
Wife
The female of a pair of mated animals.
A new wife for the gander is introduced into the pen.
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Tayyaba Rehman
Aug 20, 2018
Wive
To marry, as a man; to take a wife.
Wherefore we pray you hastily to wive.
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Tayyaba Rehman
Aug 20, 2018
Wife
A woman; an adult female; - now used in literature only in certain compounds and phrases, as alewife, fishwife, goodwife, and the like.
On the green he saw sitting a wife.
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Tayyaba Rehman
Aug 20, 2018
Wife
The lawful consort of a man; a woman who is united to a man in wedlock; a woman who has a husband; a married woman; - correlative of husband.
Let every one you . . . so love his wife even as himself, and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
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Tayyaba Rehman
Aug 20, 2018
Wife
A woman in a marital relationship.
My wife and I celebrated our tenth anniversary.
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Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 26, 2023
FAQs
Can "Wife" indicate any married woman?
Yes, "Wife" refers to a woman who is married.
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Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 26, 2023
Would it be correct to say "He wived her last summer"?
Yes, it means he married her last summer, though the phrasing is old-fashioned.
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Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 26, 2023
Is the word "Wive" commonly used today?
"Wive" is less common and can be considered somewhat archaic.
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Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 26, 2023
Can "Wive" be used to describe a man marrying a woman?
Yes, "Wive" means to marry a woman.
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Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 26, 2023
Author Spotlight
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.