courtship
Americannoun
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the wooing of one person by another.
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the period during which such wooing takes place.
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solicitation of favors, applause, etc.
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Ethology. behavior in animals that occurs before and during mating, often including elaborate displays.
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Obsolete. courtly behavior; courtesy; gallantry.
noun
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the act, period, or art of seeking the love of someone with intent to marry
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the seeking or soliciting of favours
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obsolete courtly behaviour
Etymology
Origin of courtship
Explanation
A courtship is a period in a romantic couple's relationship when they are dating. Most partners go through a courtship before deciding to get married. Courtship is an old-fashioned word, assuming that two people who love each other will eventually get married. If your uncle and aunt only met a few weeks before their wedding, you can say they had a brief courtship — and if you have friends who aren't married but have been together for years, you could describe their decades-long courtship. The word is indeed old-fashioned, from the 16th century when it meant "paying court to a woman with intention of marriage."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He remembered meeting her in late summer, in a whirlwind courtship that he described as a Hallmark movie.
From Slate • Apr. 6, 2026
And that courtship is likely to start again this season.
From BBC • Mar. 5, 2026
US President Donald Trump stepped up his courtship of Kim during a tour of Asia last year, saying he was "100 percent" open to a meeting.
From Barron's • Feb. 23, 2026
But this one stretches a basic courtship that could be covered in about 90 minutes, tops, over nine episodes and a total runtime landing between seven and eight hours.
From Salon • Feb. 12, 2026
Their working relationship evolved quickly into courtship, then love.
From "The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates" by Wes Moore
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
