soulmate

IPA/ˈsəʊlmeɪt/
IPA/ˈsəʊlmeɪt/

soulmate — noun

  • soulmatesingular
  • soulmatesplural

1. What some people call a soulmate is someone you share an unusually deep and natu

1.nounB2
Definition

What some people call a soulmate is someone you share an unusually deep and natural bond with, as if your connection was somehow meant to be — this can be a lover, a spouse, or a friend who knows and accepts the real you.

Example

Elena and Kenji met at a busy bookstore and immediately knew they were soulmates.

be + soulmates for describing a pair

The two architects, Wei and Sofia, called each other soulmates because they could finish each other's sentences at work.

call each other + soulmates

Common collocations
  • find one's soulmate
  • meet one's soulmate
  • be soulmates
  • true soulmate
  • soulmate connection
  • lost soulmate
  • destined soulmate
Synonyms
  • kindred spirit

    Less romantic than soulmate; emphasises shared values and outlook rather than destiny or romantic love.

  • true love

    Exclusively romantic; carries stronger emotional intensity and is used only for romantic partners.

  • best friend

    Much broader and more common; does not carry the implication of fate or a uniquely deep spiritual bond.

Antonyms
  • stranger

    Someone you have no personal connection with at all.

  • acquaintance

    Someone you know only casually, without the deep mutual understanding of a soulmate.

Grammar Patterns

possessive + soulmate

be + soulmates

soulmate + of + [person]

Usage Note

Often used in romantic contexts, but also fitting for very close, non-romantic friendships. The word carries a tone of fate or destiny — the implication is that the bond was meant to happen.

Common Mistakes

I hope to find my soulmate partner someday.
I hope to find my soulmate someday.
'Soulmate' already implies a deep partnership; adding 'partner' is redundant.
He is like a soulmate to me.
He is my soulmate.
The word already expresses the closest possible bond; using 'like a' weakens the meaning.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Soulmate, kindred spirit, true love, and best friend all describe close personal connections, but they differ in intensity, scope, and tone. Soulmate carries the strongest implication of destiny and a bond that feels pre-ordained; it can apply to both romantic partners and exceptionally close friends. Kindred spirit is almost exclusively platonic and focuses on shared values, interests, or worldview rather than romantic or fated connection. True love is reserved for romantic relationships and emphasises passion and devotion more than the spiritual bond implied by soulmate. Best friend is the broadest and most everyday term; it describes someone you trust and enjoy spending time with, without any suggestion of fate or a uniquely deep spiritual link. A person might call their spouse their soulmate (implying destiny), but call a childhood companion their best friend (implying long familiarity) or a kindred spirit (implying shared values).

soulmate ↗kindred spirittrue lovebest friend

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • soulmate connection
  • soulmate bond
  • find your soulmate
  • meet your soulmate

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

Soulmate is formed from two Old English words: 'sawol' (the spiritual or immaterial essence of a person) and 'gemaca' (a companion or equal). The compound emerged in English literature in the early 19th century, notably in the writings of Samuel Taylor Coleridge, who used it to describe a person perfectly suited to another by nature. The concept gained wider popularity in the 20th century through romantic fiction and self-help culture, where it came to emphasise the idea of a destined or fated partner.