plus one

Meaning

Noun

• A friend or date whom one brings along to an event; a guest of a guest.

Related

Similar words

• companion, guest

Origin

• 2004, from guest lists reading “John Doe + 1” meaning “John Doe plus one (unspecified) guest”. Later generalized to invitations, particularly as an alternative to explicitly inviting both members of a couple: the invitee is welcome to bring a guest, be it a spouse, companion, date, friend, etc.