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
Seventy-eight percent of Gen Zers say financial responsibility is an important trait when choosing a significant other, according to a 2025 Bank of America survey.
—
Gili Malinsky, CNBC, 1 May 2026
Friends or significant others may be distracting or stirring drama in the background.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 20 Apr. 2026
Bringing a significant other home to meet Mom can be a bit stressful.
—Matt Cabral, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Apr. 2026
Police say that Williams was killed moments after hanging up the phone from a heated call with his significant other, who just happened to be Frazier’s mother.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for significant other
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Gili Malinsky, CNBC, 1 May 2026
Friends or significant others may be distracting or stirring drama in the background.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 20 Apr. 2026
Bringing a significant other home to meet Mom can be a bit stressful.
—Matt Cabral, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Apr. 2026
Police say that Williams was killed moments after hanging up the phone from a heated call with his significant other, who just happened to be Frazier’s mother.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for significant other
Cite this Entry
“Significant other.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/significant%20other. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
significant other
noun
significant oth·er
-ˈət͟h-ər 
: a person who is important to one's well-being
especially
: a spouse or one in a similar relationship
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
