flirtation

[flur-tey-shuhn]

noun

1. the act or practice of flirting; coquetry.

2. a love affair that is not serious.

flirtation

/ flɜːˈteɪʃən /

noun

1. behaviour intended to arouse sexual feelings or advances without emotional commitment; coquetry

2. any casual involvement without commitment

   a flirtation with journalism

Other Word Forms

• flirtational adjective
• flirtationless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of flirtation¹

First recorded in 1710–20; flirt + -ation

Example Sentences

But beneath the cute and fun is this flirtation with the spiritual — albeit the dark side of the spiritual — that abides talk of ghosts, spirits and hauntings.

From Salon

Others dismissed Burnham's chances of returning to Westminster and said his flirtations with a leadership bid had been unhelpful for the party at a difficult time.

From BBC

And despite numerous free-agent flirtations with his hometown Texas Rangers, he always saw the Dodgers as the best way to get there.

From Los Angeles Times

Corn in a dip is always a flirtation — sweet, juicy, a little showy.

From Salon

Putnam was jealous of his wife’s flirtations, and tinkered with her schedule accordingly.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• dalliance 
• flirting www.thesaurus.com
• toying www.thesaurus.com