What does romantics mean?
Romantics are people marked by emotional openness, idealism, or a strong attachment to love and beautiful possibilities. The plural can describe lovers, dreamers, artists, or anyone whom a speaker regards as guided by sentiment rather than hard-headed practicality. It can also refer collectively to romantic feelings, ideals, values, or experiences, as when someone speaks of “the romantics of childhood.” The word often carries an affectionate or nostalgic tone, though it may sometimes imply impracticality or sentimentality. When capitalized, Romantics has the more specific historical meaning of participants in the European Romantic movement of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Overall, the term is useful for identifying people and ideas shaped by love, imagination, and emotional idealism, whether in ordinary conversation or cultural history.
noun (plural)Romantics are people who view love, relationships, or life in an idealistic or emotionally expressive way. By extension, the word can refer to romantic feelings, values, or experiences.
- People who are inclined toward romantic love, emotional idealism, or idealistic views.
- Romantic feelings, values, or experiences considered collectively.
- Capitalized, members of the Romantic movement in European literature, art, or music.
"Despite their practical careers, her friends were romantics at heart."
"The two romantics met at a poetry reading and remained close for the rest of their lives."
"Her romance with the sea was one of the great romantics of her life."
The headword is itself normally plural and has no additional distinct plural form.
"They were romantics who continued to believe in lifelong love."
Lowercase romantics can describe lovers and idealists; capitalized Romantics identifies the writers and artists of Europe’s late-18th- and early-19th-century Romantic movement.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does romantics come from?
The word comes through French from the Latin Romanice, meaning “in the manner of the Romans.” Old French romance or romanz developed into English romance, referring first to the vernacular languages descended from Latin and later to love affairs and narratives of adventure. The adjective romantic and related words such as Romanticism arose from this same linguistic and literary ancestry.
How romantics is actually used
The word is most commonly plural and can sound affectionate, nostalgic, or mildly critical. The capitalized form “Romantics” refers specifically to figures associated with the historical Romantic movement.
Easily confused with romantics
A romance is a love relationship, an adventure, or a literary work, whereas romantics are people or feelings associated with romantic ideals.