paramour
noun
par·amour
ˈper-ə-ˌmu̇r 
ˈpa-rə-
: lover
specifically
: an illicit or secret lover
a married man and his paramour
Her account put him in the position of looking like the duped lover believing the cheating married paramour's protestation of love … —
Bettina Drew
Bettina Drew 
Did you know?
Paramour came to English from French (a language based on Latin), though the modern French don't use the word. Since par amour meant "through love", it implies a relationship based solely on love, often physical love, rather than on social custom or ceremony. So today it tends to refer to the lover of a married man or woman, but may be used for any lover who isn't obeying the social rules.
Examples of paramour in a Sentence
And faster than you can say "You've got mail!" he fell hard for his unseen paramour.
—Kipp Cheng, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Oct. 1998
His Vietnamese paramour was a young woman of remarkable beauty.
—Neil Sheehan, A Bright Shining Lie, 1988
As the vessel made sail immediately, and landed no part of their cargo, there seemed little doubt that they were accomplices of the notorious Robertson, and that the vessel had only come into the firth to carry off his paramour.
—Walter Scott, The Heart of Midlothian, 1818
Kipp Cheng, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Oct. 1998
His Vietnamese paramour was a young woman of remarkable beauty.
—Neil Sheehan, A Bright Shining Lie, 1988
As the vessel made sail immediately, and landed no part of their cargo, there seemed little doubt that they were accomplices of the notorious Robertson, and that the vessel had only come into the firth to carry off his paramour.
—Walter Scott, The Heart of Midlothian, 1818
Recent Examples on the Web
Meanwhile, there were clues that Greg had another paramour waiting in the wings.
—Judy Berman, TIME, 17 Feb. 2025
The entrances were often tucked into alleyways, and exits were reached through tunnels, allowing paramours to avoid detection.
—airmail.news, 15 Feb. 2025
And, unlike humans, these inspiring paramours ask for very little — except to live their lives in peace.
—Ingrid Newkirk, The Mercury News, 14 Feb. 2025
The idea that someone super close to you will be able guess what is in your heart and gift you appropriately—that the right paramour will come up with right present—is well, beyond a tall order.
—Lynn Yaeger, Vogue, 12 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for paramour
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Judy Berman, TIME, 17 Feb. 2025
The entrances were often tucked into alleyways, and exits were reached through tunnels, allowing paramours to avoid detection.
—airmail.news, 15 Feb. 2025
And, unlike humans, these inspiring paramours ask for very little — except to live their lives in peace.
—Ingrid Newkirk, The Mercury News, 14 Feb. 2025
The idea that someone super close to you will be able guess what is in your heart and gift you appropriately—that the right paramour will come up with right present—is well, beyond a tall order.
—Lynn Yaeger, Vogue, 12 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for paramour
Articles Related to paramour
Cite this Entry
“Paramour.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paramour. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
paramour
noun
par·amour
ˈpar-ə-ˌmu̇r
: a partner in a sexual relationship other than that of husband and wife
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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