endearment

noun

en·​dear·​ment in-ˈdir-mənt How to pronounce endearment (audio)
1
: a word or an act (such as a caress) expressing affection
2
: the act or process of endearing

Examples of endearment in a Sentence

two lovers whispering endearments to each other
Recent Examples on the Web Therefore, should the use of endearments in impersonal situations be considered innocent? Judith Martin, The Mercury News, 16 Jan. 2024 Named Joon, after a Farsi term of endearment, the line emerged from the countless custom requests Karimi had fielded from male clients over the years. Victoria Gomelsky, Robb Report, 18 Dec. 2023 Chandamama is a term of endearment toward the Moon in Hindi and other regional languages and is also used in nursery rhymes. Umar Shakir, The Verge, 31 Aug. 2023 This term of endearment was once a very popular name used by men to describe their girlfriends. Nina Derwin, Woman's Day, 1 Aug. 2023 Jennifer Aniston is celebrating Sandra Bullock’s birthday with terms of endearment. Alexis Jones, Peoplemag, 26 July 2023 The pending demise of El Pino turned out to be hearsay, but the endearment from the public was all real. Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2023 Terms of endearment tumbled from my mouth as if Morgan’s pizza had always been part of my life, instead of a recent interloper into my don’t-try-this-at-home diet of burgers, hot chicken, Korean barbecue and ballpark concessions. Tim Carman, Washington Post, 21 June 2023 Everything's better with age, including these adorable terms of endearment. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 7 June 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'endearment.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1610, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of endearment was in 1610

Dictionary Entries Near endearment

Cite this Entry

“Endearment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/endearment. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

endearment

noun
en·​dear·​ment in-ˈdi(ə)r-mənt How to pronounce endearment (audio)
: a word or an act (as a caress) showing love or affection
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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