valentine
1 Americannoun
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a card or message, usually amatory or sentimental but sometimes satirical or comical, or a token or gift sent by one person to another on Valentine's Day, sometimes anonymously.
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a sweetheart chosen or greeted on this day.
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a written or other artistic work, message, token, etc., expressing affection for something or someone.
His photographic essay is a valentine to Paris.
noun
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Saint, died a.d. c270, Christian martyr at Rome.
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Also pope a.d. 827.
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a male given name: from a Latin word meaning “strong.”
noun
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a card or gift expressing love or affection, sent, often anonymously, to one's sweetheart or satirically to a friend, on Saint Valentine's Day
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a sweetheart selected for such a greeting
noun
Usage
What is a valentine? A valentine is a card or gift given to someone for the occasion of Valentine’s Day, a holiday on February 14 that’s popularly observed as a day to celebrate love, especially by those in romantic relationships. Valentines are often intended as a declaration of love, but they can also be given as a gesture of friendship. Valentines are commonly exchanged by romantic partners, or given by someone who wants to show affection to or romantic interest in the recipient. But they can also be exchanged by family members and friends—children might make valentines for their parents and school students sometimes give valentines to all of their fellow classmates, for example. The classic version of a valentine is a card shaped like a heart, but they can come in many forms. Valentine messages can be serious or humorous or silly. The word valentine can also refer to the person to whom a valentine is given (or the person who gives it), or to a person’s date or romantic partner on Valentine’s Day. Asking someone to be your valentine typically conveys romantic interest—it most commonly means you want them to be your date for Valentine’s Day. However, this is not always the case. The term Valentine’s (or Valentines) is a short way of referring to Valentine’s Day, as in Do you have plans for Valentine’s yet?Valentine is also the name of a Christian saint whose feast day is observed on February 14. The name of Valentine’s Day can be traced back to this observance, though it may have also been influenced by another saint named Valentine. Example: I always send valentines anonymously—I just want to make people happy, without any obligation.
Etymology
Origin of valentine
1400–50; late Middle English, after the feast of Saint Valentine
Explanation
A valentine is a sweetheart: specifically, someone who receives a greeting or attention on Valentine's Day. There are many words for someone you like in a romantic way, such as sweetie, main squeeze, boyfriend, girlfriend, significant other, and special someone. Another is valentine, though you'll mainly hear this word on Valentine's Day: February 14. Asking "Will you be my valentine?" is like asking "Will you go out with me?" and saying "I like you." Sending a card is a common way to let someone know you want to be their valentine.
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.
Instead, a good 50% of the tracks retreat to safer ground - slowly strummed songs of devotion, packed with valentine card sentiments.
From BBC • Sep. 11, 2025
Director Stephen Soucy’s valentine of a documentary “Merchant Ivory” recounts their remarkable partnership as well as individual moments in their lives and careers.
From Salon • Aug. 30, 2024
One girl, Maria, greets her “bestie” Harmony with an early valentine and receives a warm hug in return.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 6, 2024
It’s a thrilling and fascinating film, and a quiet valentine to the vanished skyscrapers.
From New York Times • Sep. 11, 2020
“I wonder if Charlie got the valentine I sent him.”
From "Hattie Big Sky" by Kirby Larson
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.
