courtship

noun

court·​ship ˈkȯrt-ˌship How to pronounce courtship (audio)
: the act, process, or period of courting

Examples of courtship in a Sentence

They had a two-year courtship before marrying. The male of the species often displays aggression during courtship. the President's courtship of middle-class voters
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Communications Minister Juscelino Filho denied any retaliatory link between Brazil’s feud with Musk and its courtship of his Chinese rivals in the sector. Greg McKenna, Fortune Asia, 20 Nov. 2024 Kyiv’s courtship continued throughout the presidential campaign. Nataliya Gumenyuk, Foreign Affairs, 15 Nov. 2024 Concern initially swirled around Crown Prince Haakon and Mette-Marit's courtship, as her ex Marten Borg, Marius' father, had been convicted of drug possession in the 1990s. Janine Henni, People.com, 30 Oct. 2024 To Rival Gold Breaching also seems to be linked to social behaviors, such as courtship. Melissa Cristina Marquez, Forbes, 27 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for courtship 

Word History

First Known Use

1596, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of courtship was in 1596

Dictionary Entries Near courtship

Cite this Entry

“Courtship.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/courtship. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

courtship

noun
court·​ship -ˌship How to pronounce courtship (audio)
: the act or process of courting

More from Merriam-Webster on courtship

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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