A word for a romantic but not physical relationship





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I am looking for a word to describe a relationship that is romantic as opposed to platonic or familial, and a relationship is mutual as opposed to a crush, but that does not involve physical interaction that is sexual in nature.



Despite the title, I don't mean necessarily a complete lack of physical contact, although it could lack all physical contact (e.g. a romantic relationship of pen pals, or over the Internet).



For example, such a relationship might involve holding hands or a kiss on the cheek where this is socially normal, or touching in the context of dancing or figure skating or teaching someone how to bowl or whatever.



Is there a general term that describes all such relationships, or if not, are there words that describe particular kinds of such relationships?










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  • What's wrong with romantic?
    – shoover
    Oct 25 at 3:23










  • Romantic when used in opposition to platonic often implies, or at least can include, a relationship that is physically sexual. The goal is to find a word that captures only the middle ground of not platonic but also not physically sexual.
    – ohwilleke
    Oct 25 at 3:24












  • You're not going to find a good candidate for that kind of term, unless you expressly put caveats in the description. Even my answer is a bit of a forced fit, but it's the next closest answer, at least as far as I know. That or "Romantic Friendship", which I am now editing into my answer.
    – Sora Tamashii
    Oct 25 at 3:35










  • The French expression 'amitié amoureuse' can be used in English.
    – Kate Bunting
    Oct 25 at 8:23










  • I agree with another comment that romantic is fine. I disagree with your premise that it must involve sexual contact. There are many people who, through a physical handicap or otherwise, are unable to have a normal sexual relationship. But they can be involved in romantic relationships just as well as people who don't have sexual contact. Also, if you look up romantic in a dictionary, you'll find several senses that mention love rather than anything else.
    – Jason Bassford
    Oct 25 at 19:25

















up vote
0
down vote

favorite












I am looking for a word to describe a relationship that is romantic as opposed to platonic or familial, and a relationship is mutual as opposed to a crush, but that does not involve physical interaction that is sexual in nature.



Despite the title, I don't mean necessarily a complete lack of physical contact, although it could lack all physical contact (e.g. a romantic relationship of pen pals, or over the Internet).



For example, such a relationship might involve holding hands or a kiss on the cheek where this is socially normal, or touching in the context of dancing or figure skating or teaching someone how to bowl or whatever.



Is there a general term that describes all such relationships, or if not, are there words that describe particular kinds of such relationships?










share|improve this question














bumped to the homepage by Community yesterday


This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.















  • What's wrong with romantic?
    – shoover
    Oct 25 at 3:23










  • Romantic when used in opposition to platonic often implies, or at least can include, a relationship that is physically sexual. The goal is to find a word that captures only the middle ground of not platonic but also not physically sexual.
    – ohwilleke
    Oct 25 at 3:24












  • You're not going to find a good candidate for that kind of term, unless you expressly put caveats in the description. Even my answer is a bit of a forced fit, but it's the next closest answer, at least as far as I know. That or "Romantic Friendship", which I am now editing into my answer.
    – Sora Tamashii
    Oct 25 at 3:35










  • The French expression 'amitié amoureuse' can be used in English.
    – Kate Bunting
    Oct 25 at 8:23










  • I agree with another comment that romantic is fine. I disagree with your premise that it must involve sexual contact. There are many people who, through a physical handicap or otherwise, are unable to have a normal sexual relationship. But they can be involved in romantic relationships just as well as people who don't have sexual contact. Also, if you look up romantic in a dictionary, you'll find several senses that mention love rather than anything else.
    – Jason Bassford
    Oct 25 at 19:25













up vote
0
down vote

favorite









up vote
0
down vote

favorite











I am looking for a word to describe a relationship that is romantic as opposed to platonic or familial, and a relationship is mutual as opposed to a crush, but that does not involve physical interaction that is sexual in nature.



Despite the title, I don't mean necessarily a complete lack of physical contact, although it could lack all physical contact (e.g. a romantic relationship of pen pals, or over the Internet).



For example, such a relationship might involve holding hands or a kiss on the cheek where this is socially normal, or touching in the context of dancing or figure skating or teaching someone how to bowl or whatever.



Is there a general term that describes all such relationships, or if not, are there words that describe particular kinds of such relationships?










share|improve this question













I am looking for a word to describe a relationship that is romantic as opposed to platonic or familial, and a relationship is mutual as opposed to a crush, but that does not involve physical interaction that is sexual in nature.



Despite the title, I don't mean necessarily a complete lack of physical contact, although it could lack all physical contact (e.g. a romantic relationship of pen pals, or over the Internet).



For example, such a relationship might involve holding hands or a kiss on the cheek where this is socially normal, or touching in the context of dancing or figure skating or teaching someone how to bowl or whatever.



Is there a general term that describes all such relationships, or if not, are there words that describe particular kinds of such relationships?







single-word-requests






share|improve this question













share|improve this question











share|improve this question




share|improve this question










asked Oct 25 at 3:19









ohwilleke

1,650312




1,650312





bumped to the homepage by Community yesterday


This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.







bumped to the homepage by Community yesterday


This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.














  • What's wrong with romantic?
    – shoover
    Oct 25 at 3:23










  • Romantic when used in opposition to platonic often implies, or at least can include, a relationship that is physically sexual. The goal is to find a word that captures only the middle ground of not platonic but also not physically sexual.
    – ohwilleke
    Oct 25 at 3:24












  • You're not going to find a good candidate for that kind of term, unless you expressly put caveats in the description. Even my answer is a bit of a forced fit, but it's the next closest answer, at least as far as I know. That or "Romantic Friendship", which I am now editing into my answer.
    – Sora Tamashii
    Oct 25 at 3:35










  • The French expression 'amitié amoureuse' can be used in English.
    – Kate Bunting
    Oct 25 at 8:23










  • I agree with another comment that romantic is fine. I disagree with your premise that it must involve sexual contact. There are many people who, through a physical handicap or otherwise, are unable to have a normal sexual relationship. But they can be involved in romantic relationships just as well as people who don't have sexual contact. Also, if you look up romantic in a dictionary, you'll find several senses that mention love rather than anything else.
    – Jason Bassford
    Oct 25 at 19:25


















  • What's wrong with romantic?
    – shoover
    Oct 25 at 3:23










  • Romantic when used in opposition to platonic often implies, or at least can include, a relationship that is physically sexual. The goal is to find a word that captures only the middle ground of not platonic but also not physically sexual.
    – ohwilleke
    Oct 25 at 3:24












  • You're not going to find a good candidate for that kind of term, unless you expressly put caveats in the description. Even my answer is a bit of a forced fit, but it's the next closest answer, at least as far as I know. That or "Romantic Friendship", which I am now editing into my answer.
    – Sora Tamashii
    Oct 25 at 3:35










  • The French expression 'amitié amoureuse' can be used in English.
    – Kate Bunting
    Oct 25 at 8:23










  • I agree with another comment that romantic is fine. I disagree with your premise that it must involve sexual contact. There are many people who, through a physical handicap or otherwise, are unable to have a normal sexual relationship. But they can be involved in romantic relationships just as well as people who don't have sexual contact. Also, if you look up romantic in a dictionary, you'll find several senses that mention love rather than anything else.
    – Jason Bassford
    Oct 25 at 19:25
















What's wrong with romantic?
– shoover
Oct 25 at 3:23




What's wrong with romantic?
– shoover
Oct 25 at 3:23












Romantic when used in opposition to platonic often implies, or at least can include, a relationship that is physically sexual. The goal is to find a word that captures only the middle ground of not platonic but also not physically sexual.
– ohwilleke
Oct 25 at 3:24






Romantic when used in opposition to platonic often implies, or at least can include, a relationship that is physically sexual. The goal is to find a word that captures only the middle ground of not platonic but also not physically sexual.
– ohwilleke
Oct 25 at 3:24














You're not going to find a good candidate for that kind of term, unless you expressly put caveats in the description. Even my answer is a bit of a forced fit, but it's the next closest answer, at least as far as I know. That or "Romantic Friendship", which I am now editing into my answer.
– Sora Tamashii
Oct 25 at 3:35




You're not going to find a good candidate for that kind of term, unless you expressly put caveats in the description. Even my answer is a bit of a forced fit, but it's the next closest answer, at least as far as I know. That or "Romantic Friendship", which I am now editing into my answer.
– Sora Tamashii
Oct 25 at 3:35












The French expression 'amitié amoureuse' can be used in English.
– Kate Bunting
Oct 25 at 8:23




The French expression 'amitié amoureuse' can be used in English.
– Kate Bunting
Oct 25 at 8:23












I agree with another comment that romantic is fine. I disagree with your premise that it must involve sexual contact. There are many people who, through a physical handicap or otherwise, are unable to have a normal sexual relationship. But they can be involved in romantic relationships just as well as people who don't have sexual contact. Also, if you look up romantic in a dictionary, you'll find several senses that mention love rather than anything else.
– Jason Bassford
Oct 25 at 19:25




I agree with another comment that romantic is fine. I disagree with your premise that it must involve sexual contact. There are many people who, through a physical handicap or otherwise, are unable to have a normal sexual relationship. But they can be involved in romantic relationships just as well as people who don't have sexual contact. Also, if you look up romantic in a dictionary, you'll find several senses that mention love rather than anything else.
– Jason Bassford
Oct 25 at 19:25










2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes

















up vote
0
down vote













If you're strictly refusing the inclusion of "romantic relationship", then the closest term to what you are looking for is as follows:




Romantic Friendship



"A romantic friendship, passionate friendship, or affectionate friendship is a very close but typically non-sexual relationship between friends, often involving a degree of physical closeness beyond that which is common in the contemporary Western societies. It may include for example holding hands, cuddling, hugging, kissing, giving massages, and sharing a bed, or co-sleeping, without sexual intercourse or other physical sexual expression." (Source)




Basically, it's those friendships that you could mistake for being lovers. You know the ones I'm talking about. It's the friendships where they act like a couple but they aren't.



Alternatively, there is also the more obscure and significantly more confusing...




Queer-Platonic Relationship



A QPR "is one which is more intense and intimate than what most people regard as a friendship, not fitting the traditional romantic couple model or the traditional bounds of friendship. It can be characterized by a strong bond, affect, and emotional commitment not regarded by those involved as something beyond a friendship. It is a so-called platonic relationship, so it does not comprehend sexuality/eroticism or romance, although some people involved in light or non-traditional romantic relationship might also categorize themselves as being queerplatonic." (Source)




Personally, I hate the way it's described in that, but that can work for what you're looking for. That said, despite what this Wikia says, QPRs CAN still include ACTUAL romance, (ie wining-and-dining), it just removes the pretense of sex from the relationship altogether.



That said, QPR's an awkward term that really fits better for people who are in "closer-than-friend" but "not-quite-romantic" relationships and usually for people who are asexual/aromantic.



Honestly though, saying you're in a plain-old "romantic relationship", "nonsexual romantic relationship", or "nonsexual relationship" should work just fine and will probably make more sense to explain to people than either of these options.






share|improve this answer






























    up vote
    0
    down vote













    What about "courtship"?



    Courtship has historically been defined as "paying court to a woman with the intention of marriage"



    I've also seen it used to describe amorous relationships between animals like "courting doves"






    share|improve this answer





















    • I always loved the term "courting", but it generally implies a more formal relationship, due to its nature as a type of "ritual", so to speak. Seems awkward to me to use it to refer to what is meant to be an outright romantic relationship in the modern sense, not to say that it can't. That's just my personal take though.
      – Sora Tamashii
      Oct 25 at 4:36













    Your Answer








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    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

    votes








    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

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    active

    oldest

    votes






    active

    oldest

    votes








    up vote
    0
    down vote













    If you're strictly refusing the inclusion of "romantic relationship", then the closest term to what you are looking for is as follows:




    Romantic Friendship



    "A romantic friendship, passionate friendship, or affectionate friendship is a very close but typically non-sexual relationship between friends, often involving a degree of physical closeness beyond that which is common in the contemporary Western societies. It may include for example holding hands, cuddling, hugging, kissing, giving massages, and sharing a bed, or co-sleeping, without sexual intercourse or other physical sexual expression." (Source)




    Basically, it's those friendships that you could mistake for being lovers. You know the ones I'm talking about. It's the friendships where they act like a couple but they aren't.



    Alternatively, there is also the more obscure and significantly more confusing...




    Queer-Platonic Relationship



    A QPR "is one which is more intense and intimate than what most people regard as a friendship, not fitting the traditional romantic couple model or the traditional bounds of friendship. It can be characterized by a strong bond, affect, and emotional commitment not regarded by those involved as something beyond a friendship. It is a so-called platonic relationship, so it does not comprehend sexuality/eroticism or romance, although some people involved in light or non-traditional romantic relationship might also categorize themselves as being queerplatonic." (Source)




    Personally, I hate the way it's described in that, but that can work for what you're looking for. That said, despite what this Wikia says, QPRs CAN still include ACTUAL romance, (ie wining-and-dining), it just removes the pretense of sex from the relationship altogether.



    That said, QPR's an awkward term that really fits better for people who are in "closer-than-friend" but "not-quite-romantic" relationships and usually for people who are asexual/aromantic.



    Honestly though, saying you're in a plain-old "romantic relationship", "nonsexual romantic relationship", or "nonsexual relationship" should work just fine and will probably make more sense to explain to people than either of these options.






    share|improve this answer



























      up vote
      0
      down vote













      If you're strictly refusing the inclusion of "romantic relationship", then the closest term to what you are looking for is as follows:




      Romantic Friendship



      "A romantic friendship, passionate friendship, or affectionate friendship is a very close but typically non-sexual relationship between friends, often involving a degree of physical closeness beyond that which is common in the contemporary Western societies. It may include for example holding hands, cuddling, hugging, kissing, giving massages, and sharing a bed, or co-sleeping, without sexual intercourse or other physical sexual expression." (Source)




      Basically, it's those friendships that you could mistake for being lovers. You know the ones I'm talking about. It's the friendships where they act like a couple but they aren't.



      Alternatively, there is also the more obscure and significantly more confusing...




      Queer-Platonic Relationship



      A QPR "is one which is more intense and intimate than what most people regard as a friendship, not fitting the traditional romantic couple model or the traditional bounds of friendship. It can be characterized by a strong bond, affect, and emotional commitment not regarded by those involved as something beyond a friendship. It is a so-called platonic relationship, so it does not comprehend sexuality/eroticism or romance, although some people involved in light or non-traditional romantic relationship might also categorize themselves as being queerplatonic." (Source)




      Personally, I hate the way it's described in that, but that can work for what you're looking for. That said, despite what this Wikia says, QPRs CAN still include ACTUAL romance, (ie wining-and-dining), it just removes the pretense of sex from the relationship altogether.



      That said, QPR's an awkward term that really fits better for people who are in "closer-than-friend" but "not-quite-romantic" relationships and usually for people who are asexual/aromantic.



      Honestly though, saying you're in a plain-old "romantic relationship", "nonsexual romantic relationship", or "nonsexual relationship" should work just fine and will probably make more sense to explain to people than either of these options.






      share|improve this answer

























        up vote
        0
        down vote










        up vote
        0
        down vote









        If you're strictly refusing the inclusion of "romantic relationship", then the closest term to what you are looking for is as follows:




        Romantic Friendship



        "A romantic friendship, passionate friendship, or affectionate friendship is a very close but typically non-sexual relationship between friends, often involving a degree of physical closeness beyond that which is common in the contemporary Western societies. It may include for example holding hands, cuddling, hugging, kissing, giving massages, and sharing a bed, or co-sleeping, without sexual intercourse or other physical sexual expression." (Source)




        Basically, it's those friendships that you could mistake for being lovers. You know the ones I'm talking about. It's the friendships where they act like a couple but they aren't.



        Alternatively, there is also the more obscure and significantly more confusing...




        Queer-Platonic Relationship



        A QPR "is one which is more intense and intimate than what most people regard as a friendship, not fitting the traditional romantic couple model or the traditional bounds of friendship. It can be characterized by a strong bond, affect, and emotional commitment not regarded by those involved as something beyond a friendship. It is a so-called platonic relationship, so it does not comprehend sexuality/eroticism or romance, although some people involved in light or non-traditional romantic relationship might also categorize themselves as being queerplatonic." (Source)




        Personally, I hate the way it's described in that, but that can work for what you're looking for. That said, despite what this Wikia says, QPRs CAN still include ACTUAL romance, (ie wining-and-dining), it just removes the pretense of sex from the relationship altogether.



        That said, QPR's an awkward term that really fits better for people who are in "closer-than-friend" but "not-quite-romantic" relationships and usually for people who are asexual/aromantic.



        Honestly though, saying you're in a plain-old "romantic relationship", "nonsexual romantic relationship", or "nonsexual relationship" should work just fine and will probably make more sense to explain to people than either of these options.






        share|improve this answer














        If you're strictly refusing the inclusion of "romantic relationship", then the closest term to what you are looking for is as follows:




        Romantic Friendship



        "A romantic friendship, passionate friendship, or affectionate friendship is a very close but typically non-sexual relationship between friends, often involving a degree of physical closeness beyond that which is common in the contemporary Western societies. It may include for example holding hands, cuddling, hugging, kissing, giving massages, and sharing a bed, or co-sleeping, without sexual intercourse or other physical sexual expression." (Source)




        Basically, it's those friendships that you could mistake for being lovers. You know the ones I'm talking about. It's the friendships where they act like a couple but they aren't.



        Alternatively, there is also the more obscure and significantly more confusing...




        Queer-Platonic Relationship



        A QPR "is one which is more intense and intimate than what most people regard as a friendship, not fitting the traditional romantic couple model or the traditional bounds of friendship. It can be characterized by a strong bond, affect, and emotional commitment not regarded by those involved as something beyond a friendship. It is a so-called platonic relationship, so it does not comprehend sexuality/eroticism or romance, although some people involved in light or non-traditional romantic relationship might also categorize themselves as being queerplatonic." (Source)




        Personally, I hate the way it's described in that, but that can work for what you're looking for. That said, despite what this Wikia says, QPRs CAN still include ACTUAL romance, (ie wining-and-dining), it just removes the pretense of sex from the relationship altogether.



        That said, QPR's an awkward term that really fits better for people who are in "closer-than-friend" but "not-quite-romantic" relationships and usually for people who are asexual/aromantic.



        Honestly though, saying you're in a plain-old "romantic relationship", "nonsexual romantic relationship", or "nonsexual relationship" should work just fine and will probably make more sense to explain to people than either of these options.







        share|improve this answer














        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer








        edited Oct 25 at 3:37

























        answered Oct 25 at 3:30









        Sora Tamashii

        13610




        13610
























            up vote
            0
            down vote













            What about "courtship"?



            Courtship has historically been defined as "paying court to a woman with the intention of marriage"



            I've also seen it used to describe amorous relationships between animals like "courting doves"






            share|improve this answer





















            • I always loved the term "courting", but it generally implies a more formal relationship, due to its nature as a type of "ritual", so to speak. Seems awkward to me to use it to refer to what is meant to be an outright romantic relationship in the modern sense, not to say that it can't. That's just my personal take though.
              – Sora Tamashii
              Oct 25 at 4:36

















            up vote
            0
            down vote













            What about "courtship"?



            Courtship has historically been defined as "paying court to a woman with the intention of marriage"



            I've also seen it used to describe amorous relationships between animals like "courting doves"






            share|improve this answer





















            • I always loved the term "courting", but it generally implies a more formal relationship, due to its nature as a type of "ritual", so to speak. Seems awkward to me to use it to refer to what is meant to be an outright romantic relationship in the modern sense, not to say that it can't. That's just my personal take though.
              – Sora Tamashii
              Oct 25 at 4:36















            up vote
            0
            down vote










            up vote
            0
            down vote









            What about "courtship"?



            Courtship has historically been defined as "paying court to a woman with the intention of marriage"



            I've also seen it used to describe amorous relationships between animals like "courting doves"






            share|improve this answer












            What about "courtship"?



            Courtship has historically been defined as "paying court to a woman with the intention of marriage"



            I've also seen it used to describe amorous relationships between animals like "courting doves"







            share|improve this answer












            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer










            answered Oct 25 at 4:34









            lunaleaps

            1




            1












            • I always loved the term "courting", but it generally implies a more formal relationship, due to its nature as a type of "ritual", so to speak. Seems awkward to me to use it to refer to what is meant to be an outright romantic relationship in the modern sense, not to say that it can't. That's just my personal take though.
              – Sora Tamashii
              Oct 25 at 4:36




















            • I always loved the term "courting", but it generally implies a more formal relationship, due to its nature as a type of "ritual", so to speak. Seems awkward to me to use it to refer to what is meant to be an outright romantic relationship in the modern sense, not to say that it can't. That's just my personal take though.
              – Sora Tamashii
              Oct 25 at 4:36


















            I always loved the term "courting", but it generally implies a more formal relationship, due to its nature as a type of "ritual", so to speak. Seems awkward to me to use it to refer to what is meant to be an outright romantic relationship in the modern sense, not to say that it can't. That's just my personal take though.
            – Sora Tamashii
            Oct 25 at 4:36






            I always loved the term "courting", but it generally implies a more formal relationship, due to its nature as a type of "ritual", so to speak. Seems awkward to me to use it to refer to what is meant to be an outright romantic relationship in the modern sense, not to say that it can't. That's just my personal take though.
            – Sora Tamashii
            Oct 25 at 4:36




















             

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