Dictionary

trophy husband en · NOUN

Etymology

By analogy with trophy wife.

Meanings

1. A husband, usually young and attractive, regarded as a status symbol for his spouse, usually older and affluent.
   • "And how does Martin fit into the picture?" "Her trophy husband? He comes from a long line of bluebloods, but his father pissed away the family fortune. [...]" 1999, Bob Sloan, chapter 21, in Bliss Jumps the Gun, Foul Play Press, page 194:
   • “No wonder you’re attracted to Marvelli. A good-looking guy, at least ten years younger than you—what’s not to like? He’d make a good trophy husband. You could show him off at feebie cocktail parties in D.C.” 1998, Anthony Bruno, chapter 35, in Double Expresso, Tom Doherty Associates, page 242:
   • “It’s a long story, but it basically boiled down to the fact that Michael was having a hard time coping with the power dynamic in our marriage. Even though I tried my best to be supportive, he felt emasculated by...you know, the whole money thing. He felt like a trophy husband, and the way my family treated him wasn’t helping much either.” 2015, Kevin Kwan, chapter 15, in China Rich Girlfriend, Doubleday, page 265:
   • They shared intimate conversations and Elijah had become accustomed to his new lifestyle just as Madame Froideur was increasingly proud of the trophy husband she flamboyantly paraded around her social scene. 2006, Todd Alexander, chapter 4, in Pictures of Us, Hachette Australia, pages 106-107:
   • Kate was a forever kind of woman. She didn’t take love lightly, and she wouldn’t give it that way, either. She wasn’t a bimbo looking for a meal ticket or a trophy husband. She was the kindest, warmest, most decent human being he’d ever met, and she’d done everything in her power to try to win his heart. 1998, Robin Wells, chapter 11, in Nine-to-Five Bride, Silhouette Books, page 176:

Forms

Coordinates

trophy boyfriend · trophy wife · trophy partner · trophy girlfriend

Relateds

social handbag · arm candy

Translations (2)

fr mari trophée (young attractive husband serving as a status symbol for his spouse) · ru трофейный муж (young attractive husband serving as a status symbol for his spouse)