infatuation

American  

[in-fach-oo-ey-shuhn] / ɪnˌfætʃ uˈeɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the state of being infatuated.

2. the act of infatuating.

3. foolish or all-absorbing passion or an instance of this.

   a mere infatuation that will not last.

4. the object of a person's infatuation.

   When I was a kid, my infatuation was stamp collecting.

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infatuation British  

/ ɪnˌfætjʊˈeɪʃən /

noun

1. the act of infatuating or state of being infatuated

2. foolish or extravagant passion

3. an object of foolish or extravagant passion

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Usage

What does infatuation mean? Infatuation is the state of being infatuated—being absorbed with an extreme passion for someone or something, especially in a way that makes you foolish or unreasonable about it. Infatuation is often used to refer to the state of someone who has fallen in love with a person without really knowing them. But it can refer to any obsessive or passionate focus, such as on an activity or goal. A person who’s affected this way can be described as infatuated. The word infatuation can also refer to the object of this focus, as in Who’s that you’re staring at—your latest infatuation? Someone or something considered an infatuation can be described as infatuating. Much less commonly, infatuation can refer to the act of infatuating. Example: Your infatuation with him is clouding your judgment.

Etymology

Origin of infatuation

First recorded in 1640–50, infatuation is from the Late Latin word infatuātiōn- (stem of infatuātiō ). See infatuate, -ion

Explanation

Infatuation is falling in love with or becoming extremely interested in someone or something for a short time. If you have an infatuation with a particular singer, you probably listen to her on repeat all day long, at least this week. If something infatuates you, it has caused you to become foolish. We say you have an infatuation when you express a crazy, extreme love of something––a person, a style, a band, anything. Infatuations usually don’t last. Like incredibly intense crushes or the stomach flu, infatuations come on strong and then get forgotten.

Example Sentences

A not-so-closeted homosexual, he also waxes lyrical about his infatuation with a young Yale student, played by a bottle-blonde Margaret Qualley, and shares drinks with "Charlotte's Web" author E.B.

From Barron's • Feb. 27, 2026

By the way, Ng confirms that bald eagle infatuation is very much an American enterprise.

From Slate • Feb. 21, 2026

The fetishized infatuation with “Heated Rivalry” doesn’t just stop at the characters; it’s now extending to the actors as well.

From Salon • Jan. 2, 2026

And I’m newly humble about my vulnerability to the kind of AI infatuation and isolation that has appeared in all-too-many tragic headlines.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 2, 2025

He despised Malfoy still for his infatuation with the Dark Arts, but now the tiniest drop of pity mingled with his dislike.

From "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" by J.K. Rowling

Related Words

• fascination
• obsession