From ghosting to rizz, modern dating has a language of its own. This dating dictionary explains the dating terms, Gen Z slang, and online dating lingo you will run into today, in plain English and grounded in relationship research. Search a term or browse the A to Z glossary below.
A
Asexual
Asexual describes someone who experiences little or no sexual attraction to other people, regardless of gender.
B
Bisexual
Bisexual describes a person who is attracted to more than one gender, often to both men and women.
D
Demisexual
Demisexual describes a person who only feels sexual attraction after forming a strong emotional bond with someone.
F
Friends with Benefits
Friends with Benefits is an arrangement where two friends have a sexual relationship without being romantic partners or committing to each other.
G
Gaslighting
Gaslighting is a form of emotional manipulation where someone makes you doubt your own memory, perception, or sanity.
Gay
Gay describes a person who is attracted to people of the same gender, and is used most often for men attracted to men.
GGG
GGG stands for good, giving, and game, a guideline for being a generous, open-minded sexual partner.
I
Incel
Incel, short for involuntary celibate, refers to someone, usually a man, who wants a relationship but cannot find one and often blames others for it.
L
LGBTQ
LGBTQ is an umbrella acronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer or questioning identities.
Love Bombing
Love bombing is overwhelming someone with intense affection, attention, and gifts early on to gain influence or control over them.
P
Q
Queer
Queer is an umbrella term for sexual and gender identities that are not heterosexual or cisgender.
R
Rizz
Rizz is slang for charm or the ability to attract a romantic or sexual partner through conversation and confidence.
S
Sapiosexual
Sapiosexual describes a person who finds intelligence the most attractive trait in a potential partner.
Ship
To ship is to support or wish for two people to be in a romantic relationship, whether real people or fictional characters.
Situationship
A situationship is a romantic relationship that has not been clearly defined and sits somewhere between casual dating and a committed partnership.
Snack
Snack is slang for a very attractive person, someone so good-looking they are described as tempting to look at.
T
Thirst Trap
A thirst trap is a deliberately provocative or attractive photo posted on social media to attract attention and admiration.
Transgender
Transgender describes a person whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth.