romantic orientation
Who you love
Romantic orientation describes the pattern of people toward whom someone feels romantic attraction—desire for emotional intimacy, partnership, and love distinct from sexual desire.
Someone might be heteroromantic, homoromantic, biromantic, or aromantic (experiencing little or no romantic attraction).
The term gained currency alongside sexual orientation to capture cases where the two don't align: She identifies as bisexual but heteroromantic.
Pursuing romantic connections
- courtshipSeeking another's romantic favor
- partnershipShared business arrangement
- commitmentFirm pledge to act
- monogamyOne partner at a time
polyamory · exclusivity · sweetheart · significant other · soulmate · beloved · paramour · suitor
Compress with force
- infatuationShort-lived intense attraction
- chemistryStudy of substances' interactions
- butterfliesFluttering insects or nervousness
- longingIntense, persistent desire
yearning · desire · enchantment · fascination · captivation · smitten · enamored · lovesick
Feels no romantic attraction
- queerUnusual or non-normative
- questioningSeeking answers through inquiry
- closetedKeeping part of oneself secret
- coming outRevealing one's identity
spectrum · label · unlabeled · fluid · LGBTQ+ · pride · self-discovery · identity
Forming close connections
- closenessState of proximity
- emotional connectionAffective bond between people
- vulnerabilityOpenness to harm
- trustConfidence in another
heart-to-heart · tenderness · affection · companionship · rapport · warmth · attachment · devotion
dating
Pursuing romantic connections
- courtshipSeeking another's romantic favor
- partnershipShared business arrangement
- commitmentFirm pledge to act
monogamy · polyamory · exclusivity · sweetheart · significant other · soulmate · beloved · paramour · suitor · admirer
crush
Compress with force
- infatuationShort-lived intense attraction
- chemistryStudy of substances' interactions
- butterfliesFluttering insects or nervousness
longing · yearning · desire · enchantment · fascination · captivation · smitten · enamored · lovesick · pining
aromantic
Feels no romantic attraction
- queerUnusual or non-normative
- questioningSeeking answers through inquiry
- closetedKeeping part of oneself secret
coming out · spectrum · label · unlabeled · fluid · LGBTQ+ · pride · self-discovery · identity
bonding
Forming close connections
- closenessState of proximity
- emotional connectionAffective bond between people
- vulnerabilityOpenness to harm
trust · heart-to-heart · tenderness · affection · companionship · rapport · warmth · attachment · devotion · cherishing
romantic orientationsexual orientation
Attraction pattern by gender
sexual attraction · libido · sensual attraction · platonic attraction
romantic orientationgender identity
Inner sense of self-classification
biological sex · gender expression · gender · sexual identity · personality
romantic, romance, romanced, romancing, romancer, romances, romanticism, romanticist, romanticize