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
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.
Divorce now is in the cards, but the terms are anything but of endearment. Pete Hammond, Deadline, 25 Aug. 2025 Bubba, by the way, was a term of endearment Buffett’s bandmates and friends used around him. Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 8 Aug. 2025 Auntie is a term of endearment, a reference to the mom-aged woman young people like being around. Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 29 July 2025 This is how pet names become a trap — when terms of endearment shift from genuine affection to strategic tools. Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for endearment

Word History

First Known Use

1610, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of endearment was in 1610

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Endearment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/endearment. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on endearment

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