While it was once used to refer to a spouse, especially a wife, it is no longer in common usage and is often seen as outdated or even archaic.
Here's why:
* Gendered implications: "Helpmeet" has a distinctly patriarchal connotation, implying that a wife's role is to assist her husband. This is outdated in contemporary language.
* Lack of contemporary usage: You are unlikely to encounter "helpmeet" in modern writing or speech.
Alternatives:
* Spouse
* Partner
* Significant other
* Life partner
While "helpmeet" might appear in some older literature, it is not a word that is used in modern English.