Husband

A husband is a man in a marital relationship, whose societal role, rights, and responsibilities have varied significantly across cultures and historical periods globally. Traditionally, husbands often served as the head of the household and primary provider, a paternalistic role that has substantially evolved in modern society, where they are no longer automatically the sole breadwinners due to changing global gender dynamics.

Etymologically deriving from the Old Norse "hūsbōndi" meaning "householder," the term "husband" applies throughout the marriage, ceasing upon divorce (when he becomes an "ex-husband") or the death of a spouse (when he becomes a "widower"). Unlike a "groom" who participates in the wedding ceremony, a husband is the married man after the event. Historically, practices like exchanging dowries or bride prices were common in some cultures, while a wedding ring often serves as a universal external symbol of this marital status.