What does heartbreaker mean?
Heartbreaker is an informal English noun with two closely related uses. Its dominant sense is a person who causes romantic disappointment, especially a lover or partner who ends a relationship or leaves someone emotionally hurt. In warmer, often more admiring contexts, it can describe someone exceptionally attractive or charming, as in “an absolute heartbreaker.” The expression is emotionally charged: depending on context, it can sound critical, accusing, or playfully envious. It is used in both British and American English and is common in conversation, entertainment reporting, and descriptions of public figures or fictional characters. Because it focuses on the emotional effect a person has on another, “heartbreaker” usually carries a stronger sense of romantic drama than a more neutral term such as “charmer.” Its simple plural is “heartbreakers.”
nounA heartbreaker is a person who causes romantic disappointment or emotional pain, especially by disappointing or ending a relationship. Informally, it can also refer to a person whose beauty or charm is so striking that they inspire intense romantic longing.
- A person, especially a romantic partner, who causes heartbreak or romantic disappointment.
- A person so exceptionally attractive or charming that they inspire intense romantic interest.
"After years of dating actors, she had become a notorious heartbreaker."
"After years of dating actors, she had become a notorious heartbreaker."
"He called the lead singer an absolute heartbreaker, half joke and half complaint."
The standard plural adds -s and is used for multiple people described as heartbreakers.
"The newspaper called them two of the screen's most notorious heartbreakers."
A heartbreaker can mean the person who devastated you—or the person so dazzling that you cannot help falling for them.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does heartbreaker come from?
Heartbreaker is an English compound formed from heart and breaker, with breaker denoting an agent that breaks something. Its familiar romantic meaning develops from the figurative expression “to break someone's heart,” meaning to cause intense disappointment or emotional pain. Related English forms include heartbreak, heartbroken, and broken-hearted.
Related word forms
How heartbreaker is actually used
Informal and usually emotionally charged. It may sound critical when describing someone who repeatedly disappoints lovers, or admiring and playful when describing someone considered irresistible. It is used in both British and American English.
Easily confused with heartbreaker
A heartbreaker is a person who causes romantic pain, whereas heartbreak is the painful feeling or disappointment itself.