noun
-
something that endears, such as an affectionate utterance
-
the act or process of endearing or the condition of being endeared
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of endearment
Explanation
Next time you cringe when a family member calls you by your childhood nickname in public, remember, Snoopy, it's just a term of endearment — meant to show affection, not make you miserably embarrassed. When you break apart the word endearment, you probably recognize the word endear, a verb that means "to make admired or beloved." The suffix -ment can turn a verb into a noun, so endearment is something that shows affection or admiration, like calling someone "my love" instead of his or her name or playfully whacking your brother on the head when you walk by where he sits, doing his homework.
Vocabulary lists containing endearment
February Vocabulary Words
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Lions of Little Rock
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
You Bring the Distant Near
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
They teased me and called me Dogface, a term of endearment.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026
Aidar had called the capybara “princess” in a way that sounded like a term of endearment for all female capybaras, so I asked for the capybara’s formal name.
From Slate ● May 27, 2026
This was despite her explaining that in Dominican culture terms like “mi vida,” “mi amor” and “babe” are common terms of endearment, and asking if it was OK that she use them.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2025
Pop star, Charli XCX, declared Kamala Harris “brat,” a term of endearment for a woman who is “a little messy” but authentic and energetic.
From Salon ● Aug. 10, 2024
Can I bear the consciousness that every endearment he bestows is a sacrifice made on principle?
From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë
Ah, Valentine’s Day … A day for cardiac-themed tokens, embossed endearments and sugary sweet love — or, in other words, conversation hearts.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 14, 2024
Is there anything real or concrete behind these whispered endearments, these blatant displays of affection, this slathered-on score?
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 7, 2022
She called Jenkins by endearments and seemed eager to get to know him.
From Washington Post ● Apr. 4, 2022
We don’t exchange heart-shaped boxes of chocolates or glossy cards with manufactured endearments inside, and we don’t go around kissing in public or saying “I love you” twenty times a day.
From The New Yorker ● Jul. 23, 2018
"Why, whatever has he done to you, my sweet?" she asked, and mopped the mud from his face with her apron and called him all manner of endearments.
From "Stardust" by Neil Gaiman
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.
