courtship

noun

court·​ship ˈkȯrt-ˌship 

: the act, process, or period of courting

Synonyms of courtship

• dating
• romance

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

That includes host plants for caterpillars, mature trees, animal garden, dead trees or other areas where wildlife can engage in courtship behavior, mate and then bear and raise their young. —Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 15 Mar. 2026

There is a bit of cultural significance in a part of traditional Filipino courtship, called harana. —Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026

After being hounded by paparazzi for their entire courtship, the duo managed to pull off a secret wedding, away from prying eyes, on a secluded island in Georgia. —Claudia Williams, Architectural Digest, 5 Mar. 2026

The widening war in Iran is a reminder that the Gulf, for all its modernization and courtship of the global high-finance set, remains a volatile place. —Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 5 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1596, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for courtship

• airship
• airstrip
• clerkship
• equip
• filmstrip
• flagship
• gunship
• headship
• heirship
• judgeship
• kinship
• lightship

Kids Definition

courtship

noun

court·​ship -ˌship 

: the act or process of courting