infatuation
Americannoun
-
infatuations
plural
-
the state of being infatuated.
-
the act of infatuating.
-
foolish or all-absorbing passion or an instance of this.
a mere infatuation that will not last.
-
the object of a person's infatuation.
When I was a kid, my infatuation was stamp collecting.
noun
-
the act of infatuating or state of being infatuated
-
foolish or extravagant passion
-
an object of foolish or extravagant passion
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.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
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.
Vocabulary lists containing infatuation
Aretha Franklin (1942 - 2018) Tribute List
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 Princess Bride
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!
George Washington's Farewell Address (1796)
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:
In his opening address on Monday, prosecutor Brett Hatfield SC described how Lamarre-Condon had developed an "obsessive and jealous infatuation" with Baird after a brief romantic relationship.
From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2026
For him, the data centre project is born of "infatuation with all things digital" and "developing AI at breakneck speed in all directions".
From Barron's ● Jun. 5, 2026
It was a crazed type of infatuation with stardom, not generated from me, but at me.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 18, 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
The nineteenth century’s infatuation with phrenology—to continue with a somewhat different heady concern—demonstrates the flimsiness of this line of thought.
From "Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences" by John Allen Paulos
She didn’t invent the idea of catchy songs about infatuations and breakups where the protagonist’s experience can be mapped to a singer’s life, but she perfected it.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026
Their infatuations are challenged by a cunning philosopher who persuades the bros to pretend they’ve been suddenly drafted and to return later in disguise to woo each other’s fiancée.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 12, 2025
Justine Wewers, a high school geography teacher in Minnesota’s Anoka-Hennepin district, said she has seen a wearying number of student infatuations over the years, including video games, “Uno” and fidget spinners.
From Washington Post ● Apr. 15, 2023
I live in a world of fantasies, infatuations and love poems.
From New York Times ● Feb. 9, 2019
In college she had harbored lengthy infatuations, with students with whom she never spoke, with professors and TAs.
From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
