flirtation

American  

[flur-tey-shuhn] / flɜrˈteɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the act or practice of flirting; coquetry.

2. a love affair that is not serious.

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flirtation British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• flirtational adjective
• flirtationless adjective

Etymology

Origin of flirtation

First recorded in 1710–20; flirt + -ation

Example Sentences

Now that the flirtation with Warner is over, the shares are worth a look.

From Barron's

And like most forms — poetry, cocktails, flirtation — they work best when people engage with them.

From Salon

The LA28 board’s executive committee unanimously voted to keep Wasserman as chairman, after reviewing known details surrounding his more than 20-year-old flirtations with Maxwell and his “strong leadership” of the Games.

From Los Angeles Times

Jefferson carried on the flirtation following his emotional entanglement with Maria Cosway, a married artist and close friend of Angelica’s in London.

From The Wall Street Journal

Clearly, Mr. Carlson’s flirtation with Mr. Fuentes threatens to make the symptom contagious.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• dalliance
• flirting
• toying