Doug Emhoff: Merriam-Webster adds the term "second gentleman"

Kamala Harris sworn in as US Vice President 2:38

(CNN) -

Doug Emhoff is racking up several firsts as the husband of America's first vice president.

He is the first husband of a vice president;

is the first Jewish spouse of an American vice president;

and Thursday became the catalyst for a first dictionary entry.

Merriam-Webster added "second gentleman" to her esteemed dictionary, defining the term as "the husband or male partner of a vice president or second in command of a country or jurisdiction."

Emhoff took note of the addition and tweeted: "Well now it's official."

Emhoff, an attorney who previously worked in Los Angeles, has been married to Vice President Kamala Harris since 2014. On the day of his inauguration, he severed all ties with his DLA Piper law firm, where he had practiced as an intellectual property attorney. and technology and media in the sports and entertainment sector, according to the firm's website.

• Doug Emhoff, the husband of US Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, will be the first man in that position in American history.

Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband, Douglas Emhoff at a campaign event in Wilmington, Delaware, on August 12, 2020 (Credit: OLIVIER DOULIERY / AFP via Getty Images)

He will begin teaching an entertainment law class at Georgetown Law as a professor this week, according to his office.

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Doug Emhoff's role in Georgetown comes after the precedent set by the former second lady, and now the first lady, Jill Biden, who worked as a community college teacher during the Obama administration.

She has said that she plans to continue teaching even in her new role.

Emhoff has said that he will spend time as Second Knight on social justice issues and other projects in support of the Biden administration.

Emhoff tweeted the day after the inauguration that he seeks inspiration from his predecessors on paper.

“I will always remember that generations of women have served in this role before me, often without much praise or recognition.

It is his legacy of progress that I will continue as Second Knight, ”he said.

Emhoff participated in his first solo event as a second gentleman, visiting a Washington nonprofit that supports the distribution of healthy food to those in need.

Emhoff's tweet about his new dictionary description included an echo of the phrase Harris has used to define his own landmark publication: "I may be the first, but I won't be the last."

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