situationship

A situationship is a romantic or sexual relationship that has no clear label. It is more than friends, less than a committed relationship, and usually comes with a lot of “so what are we?” confusion.

What does situationship mean?

In a situationship, two people act like a couple in some ways, texting every day, going on dates, maybe sleeping together, but they have never agreed to be exclusive or called it a relationship. Sometimes that suits both people. Often one person wants more, and the lack of a label becomes the problem.

The word was popular enough to make Oxford’s shortlist for Word of the Year in 2023.

How to use it

• “We’ve been in a situationship for five months and I still don’t know if I can call him my boyfriend.”
• “It’s not a relationship, it’s a situationship.”
• “She ended the situationship because she wanted something real.”
• “Situationships are fun until someone catches feelings.”

Signs you’re in a situationship

• You have never had the “what are we” conversation, or it went nowhere.
• Plans are last-minute, and you rarely meet each other’s friends or family.
• You aren’t sure whether you are allowed to be upset if they see someone else.
• Things feel serious one week and casual the next.

Related terms

• breadcrumbing: giving just enough attention to keep someone hooked
• ghosting: disappearing without explanation
• benching: keeping someone as a backup option
• red flag: a warning sign
• sneaky link: a secret romantic or sexual partner

See more terms like this in our dating slang dictionary.