A
female
age
51-59,
*onghairedbunky
writes:I would like to know what the term "significant other" means in the homosexual relationship. I used the term in an essay regarding interpersonal relationships. I stated that relationship of all kind can become complicated. whether it is with family, friends, spouses or significant other. I was told by the instructor that the term significant other means spouse, But I disagree. I have always thought that when one is introducing a person as they introduce them as their significant other that meant that was there boy and/or girlfriend. My professor says that spouse and significant other mean the same, Can any clear this up for me: Reply to this Question
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female
reader, So_Very_Confused +, writes (27 March 2013):
 it means the same as in heterosexual relationships. why would it be different for gays and lesbians?
a person who you consider your partner that you are not married to.
My father is not married to his partner. She is his SO and I refer to her as my QSM (quasi-stepmother)
my brother is married legally to his husband. his husband is his spouse.
Your instructor is incorrect in my opinion but when I look it up in online dictionaries apparently spouse is part of the definition of an SO. So technically I stand corrected.
however in common usage I would never refer to my spouse or anyone else's spouse as a Significant other
A
female
reader, CindyCares  +, writes (27 March 2013):
 Significant other is gender blind and it means in the current usage any partner whom you are having a meaningful intimate relationship with ( i.e., obviously a one night stand is not your significant other ) regardless of marital status.
I don't know where your instructor took the notion that it may only mean husband or wife. If you have been living for the past 20 years with a person but you are not married, that person is nevertheless your SO .
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A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (27 March 2013): I'd agree with you in that significant other means the special partner in your life, regardless of gender or sexual orientation, but I suppose it is open to interpretation. To say that it means spouse is wrong in my opinion though, to me your professor is being a bit rigid here in refusing to accept your definition. If he is the one grading you though, perhaps you might consider changing it to something like 'life partner' to keep him happy?
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A
female
reader, uzer  +, writes (27 March 2013):
It does mean spouse. People use significant other (I believe) to not distract from the conversation or make anyone uncomfortable, or in some cases, to keep from outing themselves. If you were talking to a man that you thought was straight and he suddenly used the word 'boyfriend' to describe someone, it would be a little surprising and you might miss his point. I use the term in plural form, as a bisexual, when talking about past relationships because not all were girlfriends and not all were boyfriends. Also, for future relationships and hypothetical situations because you never know who you'll be with and such.
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