love affair
B2Informal, journalistic, literary. Acceptable in general conversation and writing, but not highly formal or legal.
Definition
Meaning
A romantic and/or sexual relationship, typically intense but not necessarily leading to marriage.
An intense, often short-lived or passionate enthusiasm for or engagement with a person, activity, concept, or object (e.g., 'a love affair with Italian cinema').
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies passion, intensity, and emotional involvement. Can carry connotations of secrecy, transience, or being outside the norm (e.g., an extramarital affair). The extended, metaphorical use is common and positive.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in core meaning or usage. Both use the term identically.
Connotations
Identical connotations in both dialects.
Frequency
Equally frequent and natural in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
have a love affair with [person]have a love affair with [activity/thing]a love affair between X and YVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A match made in heaven (positive)”
- “On the rocks (troubled)”
- “Head over heels (in love)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Metaphorical: 'The company's long love affair with fossil fuels is finally ending.'
Academic
Rare in literal sense; used metaphorically in humanities: 'The poet's love affair with classical forms.'
Everyday
Common for discussing romantic relationships and personal enthusiasms: 'She's having a love affair with sourdough baking.'
Technical
Not used.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- They are love-affairing? (NOT CORRECT - No verb form)
American English
- He love-affaired? (NOT CORRECT - No verb form)
adverb
British English
- They looked at each other love-affairingly. (Non-standard)
American English
- He spoke love-affairly about his new hobby. (Non-standard)
adjective
British English
- It was a very love-affair-like feeling. (Non-standard)
American English
- Their love-affair dynamics were complex. (Non-standard)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- They had a love affair.
- It was a beautiful love affair.
- Their love affair lasted for two happy years.
- He read about the famous love affair in history.
- The novel charts the tempestuous love affair between an artist and his muse.
- After moving to Naples, she began a lifelong love affair with Italian cuisine.
- The director's cinematic love affair with the urban landscape is evident in every frame of the film.
- The public's love affair with the new technology proved to be remarkably short-lived.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
LOVE AFFAIR = LOVE (strong feeling) + AFFAIR (an event/ matter of concern). Think of it as a 'matter of the heart.'
Conceptual Metaphor
LOVE IS A JOURNEY/PARTNERSHIP ('Their love affair has been a long and winding road.'), ENTHUSIASM IS ROMANCE ('My love affair with jazz began in college.').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation as 'любовный роман' for the metaphorical sense; use 'увлечение', 'страсть'.
- The word 'affair' alone often implies infidelity; 'love affair' is broader but can still carry that nuance.
- Do not confuse with 'отношения' (general relationship); 'love affair' is more specific and intense.
Common Mistakes
- Using it for a stable, long-term marriage ('They have a happy love affair for 30 years' – unnatural).
- Confusing 'love affair' (noun) with 'affair' (often implies secrecy/infidelity).
- Overusing the metaphorical sense in inappropriate contexts.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'love affair' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While it can imply secrecy or infidelity (e.g., 'an illicit love affair'), it is also used neutrally for any passionate romantic relationship and very commonly in a positive, metaphorical sense for a strong enthusiasm.
'Relationship' is broad and neutral, covering all types. 'Love affair' specifically connotes passion, intensity, and often a specific period of time. It is more emotionally charged and less clinical.
The literal sense is generally too informal for academic or legal documents. The metaphorical sense is acceptable in journalism, essays, and some academic writing in the humanities.
No. 'Love affair' is only a noun compound. You cannot say 'to love affair'. Use verbs like 'to have an affair', 'to be involved (with)', or 'to romance' (archaic).