common-law wife
noun/ˌkɒmən lɔː ˈwaɪf/
/ˌkɑːmən lɔː ˈwaɪf/
- a woman that a person has lived with for a long time and who is recognized (in some countries though not the UK) as a wife, without a formal marriage ceremonyTopics Family and relationshipsc2
Definitions on the go
Look up any word in the dictionary offline, anytime, anywhere with the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary app.
Check pronunciation:
common-law wife