Glossary of Dating Terms

Dating Terms Dictionary

Here you will find a list of dating and relationship definitions. These definitions are for terms and phrases used today when referring to dating and relationships which relate to online dating. Other definitions may apply in different circumstances and time periods which we do not include. This glossary is alphabetized for your convenience. You can search the glossary and this site for a particular word or search the full text of this site and glossary to find every reference to a word or phrase.

If you can't find the term you are looking for please contact us. We will gladly add your term to this online dating definition list. For other pages related to texting and messaging, you can check out our Sexting Emojis Definitions & Usage Guide and Dating & Texting Acronyms.

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4B Movement
Is a women's dating movement popular in Korea and later the United States. “B” is the shorthand in Korean for “no.” There are 4 “nos” that the movement called for: No sex, No dating, No marrying men, and No children.
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A
Acronym
Short form slang which most likely appears in text messages and emails. Usually made up of the first letter of each word in capitals. Here is our full list of dating and texting acronyms.
Affair
The act of which a person in a committed relationship or marriage isn't faithful to their partner. The person cheats on their partner without their knowledge by having sex with another person.
Algorithm
Used by dating services to determine which members when matched together will produce a loving, happy, healthy, and lasting relationship. Information used by matching algorithms include one or more of the following sources: Profiles, Tests/Questionnaires, the members actions on the service (the type of people they viewed, communicated with, etc.).
App
A way to access a dating service on your smartphone and tablet. More users now access online dating services via a dating app than a website.
Aromantic
A rare condition where someone does not experience the feelings of romantic love.
Asexual
Someone who doesn't feel or experience sexual attraction.
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B
Bear
A term in the gay community for a big, chunky, hairy gay man who are much sought-after.
Beard
A slang term which refers to a woman who dates, marries or in other words “linked” with a gay man in order to make him seem like he is in a heterosexual relationship.
Bedroom Eyes
Refers to a heavy-lidded or half-shut eyes, reminiscent of a hazy, dreamy look shared during intimate moments.
Benching
Refers to a person not committing to officially dating someone, but they don't want the other person to move on so they string them along just enough to keep them willing to wait for them. It is a baseball metaphor.
Bisexual
Someone who is attracted to two genders.
Breadcrumbing
When someone sends flirty but non-committal messages to a person that they are really not interested in dating. This is done usually to avoid a confrontation with the other person (like breaking off the relationship)
Bromance
A man crush. Where 2 guys have a close non-sexual friendship with each other. A type of infatuation where the 2 men would rather hang out with each other more than their significant other.
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C
Catfish
To lure someone into a relationship by means of a fictional online persona.
Christian Mingle
An online dating service for singles of the Christian faith. See our Christian Mingle review for more information.
Cisgender
A term for people who aren't transgender, or whose assigned gender lines up with their actual gender.
Cougar
An older woman (think 40s+) who specifically seeks out male sexual partners much younger (20s and 30s) than herself. Also referred to as a MILF
Coupling Season
Happens from October to the end of December where people actively look for a partner. This is to avoid having to find someone in icky winter weather and to avoid those awkward questions from family and friends as to why you are alone over the holiday season.
Cuckold
A man who is married to an adulteress/unfaithful wife.
Cuffing Season
A mutually beneficial arrangement regarding sex between two people (that are not each others first choice for a partner) that's strictly seasonal. It starts usually in the fall or winter, and ends in the spring. Related to Freckling and Coupling Season.
Curve
Getting curved is being rejected by someone you like (about going on a date or something similar). It is subtler than a flat-out no.
Cushioning
The process of keeping a person or several people around to "cushion" the blow if your main relationship doesn't work out.
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D
Daterview
A date that feels more like an interview because no natural conversation develops. It is more a series of questions.
Dating
Part of the human mating process whereby two people meet socially for companionship which is beyond the level of friendship. The aim of dating is to assess the other's suitability as a partner in an intimate relationship or marriage.
Demisexual
A person whose sex drive is tied not to an immediate visual or physical attraction but to people's personalities.
DM Slide
Refers to when you direct message (DM) someone you like on a social networking site using there private messaging feature. Before direct messaging on a social network you most likely would have to interact on the site publicly first.
Doxing
Refers to a bullying like behavior where a user (usually on a dating service) publicly posts the address, phone number, or other personal information of another user.
DTR Conversation (or DTR Convo)
A conversation with your partner where you define the relationship (DTR).
Duck Face
Is a trending pose which is mostly commonly performed by young women for photos. It is very common to see these type of photos used for profile pictures. Lips are pressed together as in a Sch-moll or pout and often with simultaneously sucked cheeks. This pose may be done to act both self-deprecating and sexy.
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E
Eco-dumping
Ending a date or relationship because of someone's lack of commitment to the enviromental cause.
eHarmony
A popular online dating service which is known for their matchmaking algorithm and the 29 Dimensions of Compatibility. Members cannot search for other members on this dating service. They are sent 1 or more matches everyday by eHarmony. For more information please read our eHarmony review.
Expirationships
Someone who is looking for a short-term relationship while on vacation and expects it to end after the vacation is over.
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F
Firedooring
Refers to a one way door and is a metaphor for when someone makes you constantly feel frustrated and only rarely satisfied.
Freckling
When someone only seems interested in you during the warmer months of the year. They are not looking for anything permanent or serious (and like freckles disappear in the colder weather). Related to Cuffing Season.
Friendtroduction
When you meet your partners friends.
Friends With Benefits
An agreement between two friends who are physically attracted to one another and share a non-committed sexual relationship.
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G
Gaydar
The ability to tell whether someone is gay or not. Usually based on stereo types.
Genderfluid
Refers to a person who feels that their gender isn't fixed, but variable and can change from day to day. A genderfluid person might identify as male one day and female on the next day.
Geolocation
Refers to matching members based on location. Either by being in close proximity at the same time with other members or by crossing paths (visiting the same location but not necessarily at the same time ie restaurants, bars, gym, etc...).
Ghosted (or Ghosting)
Refers to a situation where one person ceases communication (usually texting) with the other with no explanation. Related to haunting.
Green Dating
When you choose to date someone based on shared values (usually related to the environment).
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H
Half-Night Stand
Meeting a sexually-attractive stranger and taking them home for sex which they then leave right afterwards, and do not stay the night. Related to one-night stands.
Hard Launch
The first official couple photo being posted.
Hook Up
Refers to using a dating service for the express purpose of meeting someone for sex. The people involved are not interesting in dating or a long-term relationship. Related to a one-night stand.
Haunting
Refers to someone who after a bad date or relationship continues to hang around your social media and purposely continues to likes photos or stories to remind you that they still are attracted to you and want a second chance. Related to ghosting.
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I
Icing Out
To treat someone with a lack of affection or warmth. Also describes when someone uses Covid surges or an infection as an excuse to end a relationship or disappear.
Incel
Men who are involuntarily celibate. A term popularized on Reddit to refer to men who cannot find a woman to have sex with.
InterActiveCorp (IAC)
A United States media and Internet company, which owns Match Group, which runs a number of online dating services including Match.com, Plenty of Fish, Chemistry.com, and the People Media dating services. IAC's headquartered are in New York City.
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J
Jilted
Refers to the feeling someone has towards a former partner who wronged them somehow. It is usually about a romantic relationship that ended on bad terms.
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K
Kavorka
A man who has unusual animal magnetism with women, and who isn't terribly polished with his courtship rituals. This term was coined by the TV show Seinfeld.
Kittenfishing
Refers to when you portray yourself in an unrealistically positive light that approaches being dishonest.
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L
Left on Read
Similar to an email read receipt. A notification visible in a chat window when a person has seen a message but not responded.
Lockering
When someone puts off contacting you and when you confront them about it they claim that they were busy studying.
Lothario
A man which has short term sexual relationships with a number of women over the space of a short period of time (heterosexual male womanizer).
Love Bombing
The attempt to influence a person by demonstrations of extreme attention and affection. It can be used in different ways and can be used for either a positive or negative purpose.
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M
Matchmaking
The process of matching two or more people together, for the purpose of creating a loving relationship. Can be performed by a computer algorithm or a person.
Microcheating
A form of infidelity that stops short of the full-blown cheating by sleeping with someone.
Misso/Missus
A slang for a female partner which is used by friends who believe the male partner is whipped.
Mud Shark
A racial slur which refers to white women who like to sleep with black men.
Mutual Match
When 2 people agree to be matched on a dating service. Depending on the restrictions of the dating service, after this point they usually are allowed to send messages to each other.
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N
Niche
A type or category of dating service that serve a specific client. This can range from more broad niches like Seniors to specific dating niches related to Religion, Location, Interests, etc..
Non-Binary
The prefix 'non' is modifying the noun 'binary', nullifying the idea that gender exists as only two options. A non-binary person may identify as neither male or female, or both male and female.
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O
One-Night Stand
Meeting a sexually-attractive stranger and taking them home for sex. The person then leaves in the morning. Related to a hook up and a half-night stand.
Online Dating
The practice of searching for a romantic or sexual partner on the Internet, typically via a dedicated website or app.
Open Relationship
A committed and romantic relationship that contains a special arrangement where both parties can sleep with other people.
Orbiting
Someone who doesn't communicate with you directly but continues to check your social media accounts. They make no attempts to interact with you.
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P
Pansexual
Someone who is attracted to other people regardless of their gender or sexual orientation. Includes not only men and women but trans-gendered, androgynous and/or gender fluid.
Pash
A romantic partner.
Peacocking
Attracting attention of potential partners through props and clothing.
Phubbing
Snubbing someone in favor of a mobile app.
Pie Hunting
Someone who deliberately looks to date people who are vulnerable and have a poor dating history believing these people are low maintenance and easy. For example, someone who only dates divorcees.
Polyamory
Is the practice of, or desire for, intimate relationships involving more than two people, with the knowledge and consent of everyone involved. An open sexual or romantic relationship.
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Q
Queer
Refers to someone who is not straight. Depending how it is used it may have a negative tone.
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R
Relationship
An emotional association between two people. May or may not be sexual.
Rizz
When a person has the ability to charm others easily.
Roaching
When someone hides the fact from their partner that they're dating around. When confronted about the fact the person will claim they had assumed that there was no implication of monogamy. Refers to the adage of when you see one cockroach, that there are many more you don't see.
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S
Salt Daddy / Salt Mommy
Someone who pretends to be a Sugar Daddy or Mommy but cannot afford to be one at all. See also Splenda Daddy.
Sapiosexuality
Someone who finds intelligence and the human mind to be the most sexually attractive feature for a potential sexual relationship.
Selfie
Is a self-portrait photograph taken with a digital camera or camera phone held in the hand or supported by a selfie stick. Can be done by pointed the camera at oneself or by standing in front of a mirror.
Sexting
Sending someone sexually explicit messages or photos using text messages on your phone.
Show Goggles
The psychological phenomenon resulting in a drastic change in perceived attractiveness based on taste in TV shows.
Situationship
It's not a friendship, or a relationship, but something in between.
Sneaky Link
Meet a person regularly to have sex with each other without anyone knowing about it.
Soft Launch
When you soft launch a relationship, you are dropping hints online as to who a partner is with only enough details to discern that you are dating someone.
Splenda Daddy / Splenda Mommy
Used to describe a person who wants to be a Sugar Daddy or Sugar Mommy but cannot afford to be one all the time. Sugar Babes in this type of relationship should not expect extra pampering. See also Salt Daddy.
Stashing
When you hide the fact that you have a partner from public view.
Stealthing
Refers to the guy removing a condom during the act of sex allowing them to finish without any protection, and without the other persons knowledge.
Sugar Baby / Sugar Pup
A young adult (usually an attractive woman) who participates in a mutually beneficial relationship wherein they get financially compensated in return for offering companionship to a sugar daddy or mommy. A Sugar Pup refers only to a male sugar baby.
Sugar Bowl
Refers to the sugar lifestyle as a whole.
Sugar Daddy / Sugar Mommy
A financially well off older person (usually a man) who supports or spends lavishly on a mistress, girlfriend, or boyfriend.
Sunday Test
Testing your compatibility with a date by spending a Sunday together and doing absolutely nothing.
Swipe
The term swiping was popularized by Tinder where members either swipe left or right to either reject or approve a match.
Swinger
A person who engages in group sex or the swapping of sexual partners.
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T
Textationship
A relationship which is based almost solely on texting your romantic partner instead of communicating face-to-face or with your voice over the phone.
Tinder
A popular hookup dating app where members swipe left to reject or swipe right to approve matches. Available from iTunes and Google Play. For more information see our review of Tinder.
Tinderella
Usually used by male Tinder users to describe the perfect match. A play of words on Cinderella.
Tindstagramming
The process of trying to contact someone through Instagram's direct messaging feature after you have seen them on Tinder but did not become a match since the person swiped left on you instead of right. Tinder only allows matches to communicate.
Transgender
Refers to people whose actual gender is different from the one they were assigned by society norms.
Turbo Relationship
Refers to partnerships formed during the COVID-19 quarantine because of the level of intimacy that quickly occurs when you are isolating alone together with someone else for months.
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U
Umfriend
A friend that is sort of but not really a friend.
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V
Virtual Dating
Refers to going on a date not in real life, but by using video conferencing. Became popular during the Covid Pandemic thanks to dating services adding in video chat features to their apps. Other services are also used including Skype and Zoom. Also called Zoomancing.
Vulturing
Refers to when someone sensing that a relationship is on it's last legs swoops in to take advantage of the situation to find a partner.
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W
Wanderlove
Someone who is looking for love while on vacation.
Wingman
A friend that helps you pickup people at a bar or club.
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X
Sorry no dating terms found that start with this letter.
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Y
Sorry no dating terms found that start with this letter.
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Z
Zsa Zsa Zu
The butterflies you feel in your stomach towards a person you are attracted to.
Zombieing
Refers to when someone who shows affection to another person or has been seeing the person, disappears without a trace to only reappear much later like nothing has happened to continue on with the relationship.
Zoosk
A dating service which was first a popular Facebook app before it had a website and dating apps. For more information see our review of Zoosk.
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Last Updated: Thursday, December 12 2024 @ 02:51 pm| Hits: 22,240 View Printable Version