romance: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
HighNeutral to Formal (as noun), Formal/Literary (as verb and adjective). Common in everyday contexts for the noun and adjective.
Quick answer
What does “romance” mean?
A feeling of excitement and mystery associated with love, often idealised.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A feeling of excitement and mystery associated with love, often idealised; a love affair.
Can refer to a genre of fiction dealing with love stories, or to a quality of exciting, adventurous, and sometimes mysterious appeal in general.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minor. UK English may use the capitalised 'Romance' more consistently for the language family (Romance languages). US usage may more commonly use the verb 'romance' in a business context ('romancing a client').
Connotations
Similar core connotations. The phrase 'romance of the...' (e.g., 'romance of the sea', 'romance of the railways') is slightly more literary in feel and equally used in both.
Frequency
Comparable frequency, though as a verb (to woo/charm), it might be slightly more frequent in US media.
Grammar
How to Use “romance” in a Sentence
They had a romance (N).He romanced her (V + DO).She was romanced by a wealthy suitor (V + Pass).The film has romance (N).filled with romance (Adj + N).Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “romance” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He spent months romancing her before she agreed to marry him.
- The brochure romances the idea of life on a tropical island.
American English
- The sales team is romancing a potential new investor.
- He's good at romancing the media to get positive coverage.
adverb
British English
- They gazed romantically at each other across the candlelit table.
- The film ended romantically.
American English
- He spoke romantically about their future together.
- The garden was romantically lit with fairy lights.
adjective
British English
- They went for a romantic weekend in the Cotswolds.
- Spanish is a Romance language.
American English
- They booked a romantic cabin in the mountains.
- She prefers reading romantic comedies.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; can be metaphorical ('romancing the client/investor' meaning to woo/charm).
Academic
Common in literary studies and linguistics ('medieval romance', 'Romance philology').
Everyday
Very common for discussing relationships, books, films, and feelings ('Their romance started at university.').
Technical
In linguistics, capitalised as a proper noun for the language family descended from Latin ('the Romance languages include French and Spanish').
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “romance”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “romance”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “romance”
- Using 'romance' to mean any novel (only love-story novels).
- Using 'romance' as an uncountable noun when a specific instance is meant (*'They had romance last summer' vs. 'They had a romance last summer').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it can also refer to a quality of exciting, adventurous, or mysterious appeal (e.g., 'the romance of the open road') and, when capitalised, to a family of European languages.
'Romance' is primarily a noun (and a less common verb). 'Romantic' is the related adjective ('a romantic dinner') and noun for a person ('he's a romantic').
Yes. It means to court or woo someone, or to try to make something seem more appealing or exciting than it is (e.g., 'romancing the facts').
In literature/film, a 'romance' typically implies a central focus on a love relationship, often with an emotionally satisfying and optimistic ending (a 'happy ever after'). Tragic love stories (e.g., 'Romeo and Juliet') may not be classified as genre romances.
A feeling of excitement and mystery associated with love, often idealised.
Romance is usually neutral to formal (as noun), formal/literary (as verb and adjective). common in everyday contexts for the noun and adjective. in register.
Romance: in British English it is pronounced /rə(ʊ)ˈmans/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈroʊˌmæns/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Romance is dead.”
- “a whirlwind romance”
- “rekindle the romance”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'Rome' (where Latin originated) for the language family, and 'Romeo' (from Shakespeare) for the love meaning.
Conceptual Metaphor
LOVE/ADVENTURE IS A JOURNEY ('Their romance blossomed/took off.'), LOVE IS A STORY ('a tale of romance').
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the word 'Romance' be capitalised?