fiancé

noun

fi·​an·​cé ˌfē-ˌän-ˈsā 

fē-ˈän-ˌsā

: a man engaged to be married

Did you know?

Promises, Promises: The History of Affidavit, Affiance, & Fiancé

Affidavit refers to a written promise, and its Latin roots connect it to another kind of promise in English. It comes from a past tense form of the Latin verb affidare, meaning “to pledge”; in Latin, affidavit translates to “he or she has made a pledge.”

Affidare is also the root of affiance, an archaic English noun meaning “trust, faith, confidence,” “marriage contract or promise,” or a meaning that has completely fallen from use, “close or intimate relationship.” More familiar to modern English speakers is the verb affiance, meaning “to promise in marriage” or “to betroth.” It usually appears as a fancy-sounding participial adjective:

I like to give affianced friends a copy of Rebecca Mead’s book “One Perfect Day,” which exposes the ridiculous wedding industry.
—Mollie Hemingway, The Federalist, 7 October 2014

Affiance came through French to English in the 14th century, and, nearly 500 years later, the related French words fiancé and fiancée were added to English. Etymologically speaking, a fiancé or fiancée is a “promised one.”

Did you know?

Fiancé or fiancée?

People may well be anxious, when referring to their betrothed, to make sure that they use the correct term. So the fact that fiancé and fiancée are pronounced exactly the same may cause some degree of worry and uncertainty. These two words are borrowed directly from French, in which language they have equivalent but gendered meanings: fiancé refers to a man who is engaged to be married, and fiancée refers to a woman. We have, as of this date, no evidence suggesting that the meaning of either word is affected by the gender of the person to whom the fiancé or fiancée is engaged.

Synonyms

• betrothed
• fiancée
• intended

Examples of fiancé in a Sentence

Let me introduce my fiancé.

couldn't wait to show off her fiancé to all of her relatives

Recent Examples on the Web

According to reports, the wrestler formerly known as Luchasaurus was found collapsed on Sept. 27 by his fiance. —Stephan Pechdimaldji, Newsweek, 14 Dec. 2024

Then came the roar of approval for the Rare Beauty founder and her record producer fiance. —Sandra McDonald, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2024

Milo the English show cocker spaniel lives in Lancashire, England, with his owner Rachel, 30, and her fiance, James, after becoming part of the family in 2022. —Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024

In 2022, Dockery's fiance John Dineen died at age 34 after being diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. —Janine Henni, People.com, 6 Dec. 2024

There may be other ways to cut costs rather than shorten the guest list, particularly if your fiance feels his family members might feel slighted if they aren’t invited. —Jeanne Phillips, The Mercury News, 18 Nov. 2024

We were joined by Spring’s fiance, Matt Stevens, friends Kaley Deal and Cody Peacock, and my girlfriend, Karissa Bellile. —Patrick Connolly, Orlando Sentinel, 28 Nov. 2024

Here's how prosecutors say things unfolded that evening Police said Torres-Betancourt, 27, was on her way to a Christmas party with her fiance and 7-year-old son when gunfire erupted on the 1300 block of South 29th Street. —Chris Ramirez, Journal Sentinel, 16 Oct. 2024

Linh and her fiance drove to Madison County last night to witness it at the Hogback Covered Bridge. —Jason Clayworth, Axios, 11 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

French, from Middle French, from past participle of fiancer to promise, betroth, from Old French fiancier, from fiance promise, trust, from fier to trust, from Vulgar Latin *fidare, alteration of Latin fidere — more at bide

First Known Use

1838, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

fiancé

noun

fi·​an·​cé ˌfē-ˌän-ˈsā 

fē-ˈän-ˌsā

: a man engaged to be married

Etymology

from French fiancé "man engaged to be married," derived from early French fiancé, past participle of fiancer "to promise," derived from Latin fidere "to trust" — related to faith