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

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, alligator courtship begins in early April, with mating typically occurring in May and June. —Sergio Candido, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026

No detailed courtship, no inside scoop on Taylor Swift as bridesmaid, no ups or downs or inside-outs of their love story. —Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 23 Apr. 2026

After this rather violent courtship, the female enters the den, and the pair spends several days living together, often jousting. —Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Apr. 2026

China has spent the last decade deepening its ties with African governments through loans, infrastructure projects, and diplomatic courtship. —Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 22 Apr. 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