noun

der Ehemann, ¨-er

husband

Ein Mann, der mit einer Frau verheiratet ist.

der Ehemann means husband: a man who is married to someone.

It specifically refers to a male spouse in a marriage. Depending on context, it can be neutral, formal, or simply descriptive.

Example:
Ihr Ehemann arbeitet als Arzt. — “Her husband works as a doctor.”

The word is a compound of:

Literally, Ehemann means “marriage-man” or “man in a marriage.”

der Gatte — husband or spouse; more formal and somewhat old-fashioned than Ehemann.
der Gemahl — husband; very formal, literary, or old-fashioned.
der Ehepartner — marital partner; gender-neutral in meaning, whereas Ehemann specifically refers to a man.
der Mann — man, or “husband” in informal contexts; less precise than Ehemann.

There is no exact antonym. The corresponding female term is:

This is a counterpart rather than a true antonym. In terms of marital status, ledig — unmarried or single — can function as an opposite.

mein Ehemann — my husband
ihr Ehemann — her husband
den Ehemann heiraten — to marry the husband / to marry a man who becomes one’s husband
sich von seinem Ehemann scheiden lassen — to get divorced from one’s husband
der ehemalige Ehemann — the former husband
Ehemann und Ehefrau — husband and wife