A wife is recognized as the female partner in a marriage, with legal and social standings defined by laws and cultural norms. Marriages establish rights and obligations between the spouses, extending to matters like property, inheritance, and parental responsibility. On the other hand, a consort, especially in the context of royalty, refers to the spouse of a reigning monarch. Consort definition: a husband or wife; spouse, especially of a reigning monarch.. See examples of CONSORT used in a sentence. consort (third-person singular simple present consorts, present participle consorting, simple past and past participle consorted) (intransitive) To associate or keep company (with). quotations The Harleian Miscellany: or, A Collection of Scarce, Curious, and Entertaining Pamphlets and Tracts, as well in Manuscript as in Print, Found in the Late Earl of Oxford's Library: Interspersed with Historical, Political, and Critical Notes: With a Table of the Contents, and an Alphabetical Index The ... Consort can be a noun or a verb with different meanings, such as associate, spouse, group, or musical instrument. Learn the synonyms, examples, history, and phrases of consort from Merriam-Webster.