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

Her views on Israel, for instance, are entwined with her long record of flirtations with antisemitic conspiracy theories, and it’s the same story with her willingness to release the Epstein files.

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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.

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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.

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

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

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Related Words

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