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"Partner" has been the most common term to designate a girl/boyfriend, husband or wife for as long as I can remember (& I'm 53). This has nothing to do with wokery. I've always hated it, though. It sounds so cold & asexual. twitter.com/PissOffNow77/s

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Iona Italia, PhD

@IonaItalia

Sep 19, 2022

This is not just the case at work, but in social situations too. "My partner does x" is just a much more frequently heard statement than "my wife does x." There's no point in finding this usage: it's absolutely entrenched & is the most natural language now. But I use "boyfriend."

Iona Italia, PhD

@IonaItalia

Sep 19, 2022

Judging from the replies, I am learning that this preference for the term "partner" over husband/wife, gf/bf is a British thing and Americans don't tend to use the term.

Aella

@Aella_Girl

Replying to

@IonaItalia

oh interesting! i didn't know it was more british. I often use it to indicate that i'm polyamorous, cause 'boyfriend' has subtle monog implications

9:22 PM · Sep 19, 2022

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