Work spouse
Etymology
Extends "work wife" and "work husband," gender-neutralizing them. The idea traces back to the "office wife" of the early 20th century (Faith Baldwin’s 1930 novel The Office Wife), with "work spouse" emerging as the modern, symmetrical term for a purely platonic bond.
noun · /WURK spows/
A close, platonic colleague you rely on and confide in the way you might a partner — minus the romance.
What it names
It names the particular intimacy of a workplace alliance: a default lunch companion, sounding board, and co-conspirator whose closeness mirrors a marriage in everything but the relationship itself.
Example
My work spouse always saves me the good seat and knows exactly when I need a coffee rescue.
Related idea
Different from a work friend: a work spouse implies a specific, quasi-exclusive dependence, not just friendly terms.
See also