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/ˌsɪt͡ʃuˈeɪʃənʃɪp/ · noun
(neologism, informal) A romantic or sexual relationship in which the parties do not consider or are not clear that they are in such relationship; such that is informal, without the responsibilities of a formal relationship; a companionship..
“Might you be pregnant?” I scoffed. “Listen Miss James, I know that you know that my personal life is a mess. There's no way I could be pregnant.” “Mark?” “What about Mark?” “Look, I know you're in a situationship with him...” I sighed, “Listen, Mark and I are friends. And anything that happens between us is very well secured against this.” Dawn shrugged, “Accidents happen.” “Not to me they don't,” I retorted.
The thing about being in a situationship – and this is a big thing – is that because you exist in that no-man's-land, the rules of engagement are not spelt out.
“I needed a ‘situationship,’” said Ms. Stevenson, a 31-year-old comedian and writer in Los Angeles. “A person I can rely on and trust to hang out with once a week.”
Seek so much as a kernel of advice on the internet in 2024 about conflicts in a relationship, a situationship or even an affair, and you may find yourself inundated with recommendations to "stand on business." A Hinge match asks to reschedule your first date with 30 minutes' notice? Stand on business. Your ex continues to hit you up months after the breakup? Stand on business.
According to a 2024 YouGov poll, for instance, around half of Americans aged 18-34 reported having been, like Holly, in a situationship (a term it defines as “a romantic connection that exists in a gray area, neither strictly platonic nor officially a committed relationship”).
Use situationship when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.
Situationship means (neologism, informal) A romantic or sexual relationship in which the parties do not consider or are not clear that they are in such relationship; such that is informal, without the responsibilities of a formal relationship; a companionship..
The closest synonym depends on the sentence and intended sense.
The opposite depends on the specific sense.
“Might you be pregnant?” I scoffed. “Listen Miss James, I know that you know that my personal life is a mess. There's no way I could be pregnant.” “Mark?” “What about Mark?” “Look, I know you're in a situationship with him...” I sighed, “Listen, Mark and I are friends. And anything that happens between us is very well secured against this.” Dawn shrugged, “Accidents happen.” “Not to me they don't,” I retorted.
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