1. not befitting or characteristic of a wife; not displaying the qualities traditionally expected of a wife
Usage: archaic; reflects historical gender expectations

Examples

• The Victorian novel criticized her unwifely behavior.
• He considered her career ambitions unwifely and inappropriate.
• The character was portrayed as unwifely for refusing to cook.
• Such unwifely conduct was frowned upon in that era.
• The book explores what was deemed unwifely in the 19th century.