Romantic usually describes feelings or actions related to love and affection between partners. It can also refer to a style in art and literature that values emotion, imagination, and nature over strict rules and reason.
From French *romantique* “like in a romance,” from *roman* “a story, especially of chivalry or love,” from Latin *Romanus* “Roman.” It first meant “like the stories in medieval romances” before narrowing toward love.
Romantic love got its name from old adventure stories—“romances”—full of knights, quests, and intense emotions. So when we say something is romantic, we’re comparing real life to the drama of those larger-than-life tales.
Ideas of what counts as “romantic” have been shaped by heteronormative and gendered scripts, often casting men as initiators and women as recipients of affection. Romantic expectations have also been used to justify unequal emotional and domestic labor, especially for women.
Use “romantic” in ways that recognize diverse orientations and relationship structures, and avoid assuming stereotyped gender roles in courtship or partnership. Distinguish clearly between “romantic” and “sexual” when that matters.
["affectionate","intimate","sentimental","courtship‑related"]
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