dalliance

noun

dal·​li·​ance ˈda-lē-ən(t)s 

: an act of dallying: such as

a

: play

especially : amorous play

had several dalliances before getting married

b

: frivolous action : trifling

had a brief dalliance with acting

Synonyms of dalliance

• relaxation
• recreation
• fun
• amusement
• entertainment
• enjoyment

Examples of dalliance in a Sentence

an extremely serious scientist who is not much given to dalliance or idle chitchat

Recent Examples on the Web

This one looks like a #MeToo campus tale, about an adjunct running into her old PhD advisor who just so happens to have written a book about his past that might feature the adjunct and their dalliance. —Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Jan. 2026

This dalliance was not real, but rather one of many scenes from Marty Supreme that was filmed on the ground in the Big Apple. —Alexandra Jhamb Burns, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Jan. 2026

But that rhetoric sounded hollow in the face of its dalliance with a drug-smuggling double-dealing despot like Noriega. —Time, 25 Nov. 2025

This did not happen because Taylor was about to leave for Los Angeles, so Dakota told her immediately about his dalliances with basically-a-family-member. —Olivia Crandall, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

dalliance

noun

dal·​li·​ance ˈdal-ē-ən(t)s 

1

: play entry 1 sense 2

especially : the act of flirting

2

: action lacking in importance or seriousness

a short dalliance with politics