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Synonyms

love affair

American  

noun

  1. a romantic relationship or episode between lovers; an amour.

  2. an active enthusiasm for something.

    my love affair with sailing.
love affair British  

noun

  1. a romantic or sexual relationship, esp a temporary one, between two people

  2. a great enthusiasm or liking for something

    a love affair with ballet
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
love affair Idioms  

  1. An intimate sexual relationship, as in They had a torrid love affair many years ago . This expression dates from about 1600, when it referred merely to the experiences connected with being in love. The current sense dates from the second half of the 1800s.

  2. A strong enthusiasm, as in We can't ignore America's love affair with the automobile . [Mid-1900s]

Etymology

Origin of love affair

First recorded in 1585–95

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.

The Vanguard option is the modern-day incarnation of the storied Vanguard 500 fund, which kicked off investors’ love affair with index investing in the 1970s.

From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026

Inara George looks back on it now as wistfully as someone remembering a love affair or a semester abroad.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 20, 2026

But a few months into my love affair with my 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5, a repair and insurance nightmare began.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 13, 2026

Victory would be the crowning moment of a 70-year love affair with the sport that began during childhood.

From BBC • Mar. 12, 2026

Khushal is having a love affair with his Xbox.

From "Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Changed the World" by Malala Yousafzai

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.