A work spouse is a co-worker, usually of the opposite sex, with whom one shares a special relationship, having bonds similar to those of a marriage; such as, confidences, loyalties, shared experiences, and a degree of honesty or openness. The work spouse is a potentially key relationship when one's actual spouse or boy/girlfriend is not able to be there.

Work spouse（工作配偶）指与自己有亲密合作关系的异性同事，两人之间互有的信任、忠诚、共同的经历以及某种程度的坦诚等都与婚姻关系中的夫妻类似。在现实生活中的配偶或男/女朋友不能在身边时，工作配偶就会成为主要的依靠对象。

The relationship is characterized by many sources as having the immediate intimacy of marriage without the sex or commitment, or platonic, close, opposite-sex couplings, with no romantic strings attached.

在很多介绍中，配偶关系被定义为：夫妻般的亲密关系，但与性或者承诺无关；或者没有相恋关系的、柏拉图式的亲密异性伙伴。