situationship
en
en
Change language
Translating...
/ˈsɪtʃuˌeɪʃɪp/
Add to My Dictionary
In My Dictionary
+1
A loosely defined romantic or sexual connection that lacks clear commitment, and the word can also denote the individual involved in that connection.
Examples
- He told his friends that his situationship was just a casual thing.
- Their situationship turned messy when one wanted exclusivity.
- She enjoys the freedom of a situationship without the pressure of a label.
- The couple’s situationship lasted longer than any of their previous flings.
- He introduced her as his situationship, not his girlfriend.
Similar words
open relationship
fling participant
date
partner
noncommittal relationship
romantic interest
undefined relationship
casual lover
significant other
companion
Meanings
Usage
Use situationship for an undefined romantic bond that is more than casual dating but less than a committed partnership.
Examples
- After months of texting, they finally admitted they were in a situationship.
- She enjoys the freedom of a situationship without the pressure of a label.
- Their situationship turned messy when one wanted exclusivity.
- He told his friends that his situationship was just a casual thing.
- The couple’s situationship lasted longer than any of their previous flings.
Common mistakes
The term is sometimes used as a verb or with the wrong plural form.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| We situationship every weekend.
| We are in a situationship every weekend.
|
| Our situationship are complicated.
| Our situationships are complicated.
|
| I thought our situationship was just a friendship.
| I thought our situationship was a romantic relationship.
|
Similar words
ambiguous relationship
undefined relationship
noncommittal relationship
casual romance
fling
friends with benefits
open relationship
Usage
Use situationship to refer to the person who is in such an undefined romantic bond.
Examples
- He introduced her as his situationship, not his girlfriend.
- When asked about her role, she said she was the situationship in their ambiguous bond.
- The group joked that Tom was the newest situationship among their friends.
- She felt uncomfortable being called the situationship by her partner.
- Their friends teased them, calling each other situationships.
Common mistakes
People often treat the noun as a label for a person, which is inaccurate.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| She is a situationship.
| She is in a situationship.
|
| There are many situationships at the party.
| There are many people in situationships at the party.
|
| He called his girlfriend a situationship.
| He called his girlfriend his partner in a situationship.
|
Similar words
partner
date
companion
significant other
romantic interest
fling participant
casual lover
Usage
Use situationship for an undefined romantic bond or for the person who occupies that role, and avoid treating it as a formal relationship.
Common mistakes
The term is often used as a verb, as in We situationship, which is incorrect.
Etymology
From the noun situation plus the suffix -ship, formed in early 21st‑century American slang.
FAQ
What does situationship mean?
It refers to a romantic or sexual relationship that lacks a clear label or commitment.
How is a situationship different from a relationship?
A situationship is more ambiguous and less committed than a traditional relationship.
Can the word refer to a person?
Yes, it can denote one of the individuals involved in the undefined romantic bond.
Is situationship considered formal or informal?
It is an informal term used for casual or non‑committal connections.
Where did the term situationship come from?
It was created in early 21st‑century American slang by adding the suffix -ship to the word situation.
Comments & contributions
Know this word from another angle? Add a correction, a nuance, or a usage note. New posts go public after a quick review.
No comments yet. Be the first to add one.