What does paramour mean?
A paramour is a person involved in a romantic or sexual relationship, especially one that is secret or takes place outside marriage. In modern English, the word most often has a critical or sensational tone: describing someone as a politician's or celebrity's paramour implies a concealed or disapproved-of affair. It can also be found in older literary writing, where it means a lover or sweetheart and does not necessarily carry that implication. The word is less common than lover, partner, or mistress and often appears in accounts of scandal, personal history, and literature. Its unusual history gives it a slightly formal or old-fashioned flavour, while its strong association with secrecy makes it especially noticeable in headlines and narrative descriptions. It is usually used as a countable noun, with the regular plural paramours.
A person who has a romantic or sexual relationship with someone else, especially secretly or outside marriage.
"He left his wife and acknowledged his paramour in court."
Usually carries a negative or disapproving connotation and is more common in journalistic, historical, or literary contexts than in neutral daily speech.
In older usage, a lover or sweetheart, without necessarily implying a secret or illicit relationship.
"The poet addresses his paramour in a series of tender verses."
This older sense is mainly literary or historical; in present-day English, a paramour usually suggests an affair or a concealed relationship.
The regular plural is paramours, though the word is usually used in the singular when referring to one person.
"The archive contains letters written to two separate paramours."
Once a relatively neutral word for a lover, paramour now usually carries a dramatic hint of concealment or a relationship outside marriage.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does paramour come from?
Paramour entered English from Old French paramour, literally “for love,” from par “for” and amour “love.” The French word reflects a medieval development from expressions describing a lover or beloved, and modern English retains the sense of a romantic partner, often with the added implication of secrecy or an extramarital relationship. Its deeper roots lie in Latin amor, “love,” the source of cognates such as amorous and amateur.
How paramour is actually used
The word is most often used in a negative, sensational, or morally disapproving context because it commonly suggests an affair. In older writing it can be less pejorative, but the term is now uncommon in neutral contemporary English.
Easily confused with paramour
Paramour is a noun meaning a romantic partner, especially in a secret or extramarital relationship, whereas paramount is an adjective meaning supreme or of greatest importance.
Partner is a neutral term for someone in a romantic relationship, while paramour usually carries the implication that the relationship is secret, socially disapproved of, or outside marriage.