affectional orientation

[ uh-fek-shuh-nl awr-ee-uhn-tey-shuhn, ‐en‐ ]

/ əˈfɛk ʃə nl ˌɔr i ənˈteɪ ʃən, ‐ɛn‐ /

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noun

one's natural preference for a romantic partner of one gender or the other, or the absence of gender preference in a romantic relationship; one’s aromantic, biromantic, heteroromantic, homoromantic, or panromantic identity.

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Also called ro·man·tic o·ri·en·ta·tion .

Compare sexual orientation.

Origin of affectional orientation

First recorded in 1965–70

Words nearby affectional orientation

affectation, affected, affecting, affection, affectional, affectional orientation, affectionate, affectionately, affective, affective disorder, affective fallacy

How to use affectional orientation in a sentence

I was told that God hated me, and despite trying very hard to change my sexual orientation, I found that I could not.
Do LGBTs Owe Christians an Olive Branch? Try The Other Way Around|Jay Michaelson|December 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This is an inverse Pietà, and something of a sexual anarchist; she ardently refuses to be oriented in an orientation.
Is Bigger Better for St. Vincent?|David Yaffe|December 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“Mainstream feminism is riddled with classism, racism, and sexual orientation discrimination,” she wrote.
Will White Feminists Finally Dump Lena Dunham?|Samantha Allen|November 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Edwards crudely framed the state of play in the South as a matter of race, sexual orientation, and class; in other words, culture.
The 2014 Election Is Yet Another Scrum in the Culture Wars|Lloyd Green|October 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST

What kind of groupie FYIs does the NBA provide during rookie orientation?
The Chicago Bulls’ Joakim Noah Sounds Off on Weed, the Weather, and Winning|Bill Schulz|October 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Psychology has formulated plenty of such general statements, and they serve well for a first orientation.
Psychotherapy|Hugo Mnsterberg
For the purposes of orientation a visit to the museum should precede a tour of the fields.
Manasses (Bull Run) National Battlefield Park-Virginia|Francis F. Wilshin
The settlers still haven't grown used to this planet, though we have orientation talks every night.
Deathworld|Harry Harrison
I believe that a woman of intellectual strength has a corresponding affectional strength.
A New Atmosphere|Gail Hamilton
This excellent orientation supplements the brief descriptive remarks attached to the titles.
A History of Bibliographies of Bibliographies|Archer Taylor