love affair
Americannoun
-
a romantic relationship or episode between lovers; an amour.
-
an active enthusiasm for something.
my love affair with sailing.
noun
-
a romantic or sexual relationship, esp a temporary one, between two people
-
a great enthusiasm or liking for something
a love affair with ballet
-
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.
-
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.
Australia's ballad "Eclipse" evokes a love affair between planets.
From Barron's • May 15, 2026
Americans, by all appearances, have had a 250-year love affair with technology and its benefits.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 22, 2026
Rumours of a love affair have been circulating since January when the pair were seen together at an event in Paris to mark the 200th anniversary of Le Figaro newspaper.
From BBC • Apr. 9, 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
I don’t think this love affair is at all funny.
From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood
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.
