When 'Second Gentleman' Was Added To Merriam-Webster To Describe Doug Emhoff

Kamala Harris, the Vice-President of the United States of America, is the first woman in history to take the role. Her husband Douglas Emhoff has also become the first male spouse of a Vice-President. Merriam-Webster added 'second gentleman' to its dictionary defining it to be "the husband of a vice-president or second in command of a country or jurisdiction."

When 'Second Gentleman' Was Added To Merriam-Webster To Describe Doug Emhoff

This is the first in American history that a dictionary felt the need to add the meaning of the second gentleman since until now there was always a second lady associated with a male Vice-President in America. 

Well, now it's official. @MerriamWebster just added "Second Gentleman" to the dictionary.

I might be the first, but I won't be the last. https://t.co/1PFsrYslgM

— Douglas Emhoff (@SecondGentleman) January 28, 2021

Emhoff rejoiced in the news and tweeted saying, "Well, now it's official."

Emhoff got married to Vice President Kamala Harris in 2014 and works as a lawyer in Los Angeles. When Harris was inaugurated on January 20, he severed all ties with his law firm where he used to practise technology and media law, sports and entertainment and intellectual property law.  

He will take up a teaching job at Georgetown Law as a professor of entertainment law this week, said his office. He will follow the steps of former US second lady and now first lady Jill Biden who worked as a community college teacher during Barack Obama's term. 

Emhoff has said that he will work towards social justice and contribute to other projects of the Biden administration as the second gentleman. The day after inauguration day he tweeted saying that he will draw inspiration from his predecessors in the role.  

"I'll always remember generations of women have served in this role before me -- often without much accolade or acknowledgement. It's their legacy of progress I will build on as Second Gentleman," he said.

On Thursday, Emhoff visited nonprofit organisations in Washington DC that work for food distribution among those in need. It was his first solo work appearance as the second gentleman. 

While mentioning the dictionary update, Emhoff quoted his wife and Vice-President Kamala Harris and wrote,  "I might be the first, but I won't be the last."