What does coquetted mean?
"Coquetted" is the past tense of the verb "to coquet," meaning to behave flirtatiously or to engage in playful, often insincere romantic behavior. It carries two main senses: literal flirting without serious intent, and figurative dalliance — as when a person or institution toys with an idea, a policy, or a danger without ever committing to it. The word derives from French "coquet," a diminutive of "coq" (rooster), evoking the strutting display of that bird, and it is closely related to "coquette" and "coquetry." In modern usage it reads as somewhat formal or literary; most speakers would simply say "flirted." Its figurative use remains lively in political and journalistic prose, where governments are said to have coquetted with reforms or risks they never fully embraced.
verbPast tense of "coquet": to behave flirtatiously, especially without serious romantic intent; to trifle or dally with something.
- To behave flirtatiously or play at romance without serious intent.
- To trifle with or treat something (an idea, risk, or possibility) lightly rather than committing to it.
"She coquetted with the idea of moving abroad for years before finally committing."
"Throughout the evening he coquetted shamelessly with every guest at the party."
"The government coquetted with deregulation but never enacted any real reform."
English borrowed this flirtation word straight from French, where it literally means 'acted like a little rooster' strutting to attract attention.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of coquetted
"Coquetted" comes from the French verb "coqueter," formed from "coquet" meaning flirtatious, itself a diminutive of "coq" (rooster) — the image being a rooster's showy strutting. English adopted the word in the seventeenth century alongside its relatives "coquette" and "coquetry." The same Latin root that gave French "coq" also produced the native English word "cock."
Related word forms
How coquetted is actually used
Somewhat formal and literary in register; the simple form "flirted" is far more common in everyday speech. The figurative sense of treating an idea or risk lightly is well established in journalism and political writing.
Easily confused with coquetted
"Crocheted" means made with a hooked needle in needlework, while "coquetted" means behaved flirtatiously — they look vaguely similar but share nothing in meaning.