significant others
People you date
Significant others are the important people in someone's life—romantic partners, close family members, or intimate friends.
The phrase often appears in contexts where relationship status matters but specifics don't: Employees may bring significant others to the holiday party.
Used alone, significant other typically means a romantic partner without specifying marriage or gender: Have you met his significant other?
Married partner
- husbandMarried man's role
- wifeFemale marriage partner
- boyfriendMale romantic companion
- girlfriendFemale romantic partner
partner · fiancé · fiancée · soulmate · life partner · domestic partner · better half · cohabitant
State of close connection
- friendshipBond of mutual affection
- camaraderieGoodwill among companions
- fellowshipMutual goodwill among companions
- mutual supportAid flowing both directions
confidant · best friend · partner in crime · growing old together · daily routines · inside jokes · comfort · presence
Deep, loyal commitment
- loyaltyFaithful commitment to another
- fidelityLoyalty or exactness
- dedicationWholehearted loyalty to purpose
- vowSolemn personal commitment
promise · engagement · bond · pledge · steadfastness · monogamy · exclusivity · faithfulness
Intense fond attachment
- passionIntense emotional drive
- affectionWarm emotional attachment
- courtshipSeeking another's romantic favor
- datingPursuing romantic connections
infatuation · desire · adoration · amour · ardor · chemistry · attraction · sparks
State of proximity
- connectionA joining or relation
- trustConfidence in another
- bondingForming close connections
- affectionWarm emotional attachment
tenderness · warmth · understanding · empathy · rapport · vulnerability · sharing · heart-to-heart
spouse
Married partner
girlfriend · partner · fiancé · fiancée · soulmate · life partner · domestic partner · better half · cohabitant · beau
togetherness
State of close connection
- friendshipBond of mutual affection
- camaraderieGoodwill among companions
- fellowshipMutual goodwill among companions
mutual support · confidant · best friend · partner in crime · growing old together · daily routines · inside jokes · comfort · presence · company
devotion
Deep, loyal commitment
- loyaltyFaithful commitment to another
- fidelityLoyalty or exactness
- dedicationWholehearted loyalty to purpose
vow · promise · engagement · bond · pledge · steadfastness · monogamy · exclusivity · faithfulness · covenant
love
Intense fond attachment
- passionIntense emotional drive
- affectionWarm emotional attachment
- courtshipSeeking another's romantic favor
dating · infatuation · desire · adoration · amour · ardor · chemistry · attraction · sparks · butterflies
closeness
State of proximity
- connectionA joining or relation
- trustConfidence in another
- bondingForming close connections
affection · tenderness · warmth · understanding · empathy · rapport · vulnerability · sharing · heart-to-heart · pillow talk
- couplescouple, married couple, married couples, pair, twosome
- loverslover, lovers, beloved, sweethearts, sweetheart
- social interactiongreeting, hello, goodbye, hi, bye
significant othersone-night stands
Casual sexual encounters, once
hookups · flings · booty calls · friends with benefits · situationships
significant, other, others, significance, significantly, insignificant, insignificance, signify, signification