Definition of platonic
1 capitalized : of, relating to, or characteristic of Plato or Platonism
2a : relating to or based on platonic love; also : experiencing or professing platonic loveb : of, relating to, or being a relationship marked by the absence of romance or sex
3 : nominal, theoretical
From the M-W Editors
Examples of platonic in a Sentence
Whereas in the more northerly clime of England the courtly lover of Malory and the Round Table tended to platonic adoration from afar, the Parisian woman already expected—and received—more earthly devotion. —Alistair Horne, Seven Ages of Paris, 2002
Relax. The Three Phils are strictly platonic. Yet three-pal business relationships are just as vulnerable to messy implosions as their romantic counterparts. —Anne Marie Cruz, ESPN, 7 Feb. 2000
… before concluding that your PC is for work and not pleasure, try hooking up a couple of first-rate speakers and then planting yourself in the platonic ideal of the chair. —Fortune, Summer 1998
They had a platonic friendship, not a romantic one.
Our relationship was strictly platonic.
Recent Examples of platonic from the Web
-
The very qualities that characterize the platonic ideal of a wedding invitation –
-
Beautiful Boy began in early 2014, when Rivera and Lillis were still just platonic friends.
-
However, Petrova maintained the relationship is platonic.
-
These exchanges remind us that even platonic relationships stem from chemistry and attraction — and there’s really no better place to have them than on a white sand beach while watching the sun set.
-
The Romance of Women’s Friendships—Megan Garber discusses Deborah Tannen’s new book, which explores the idea that platonic relationships can be as fulfilling—and as fraught—as their romantic counterparts.
-
And in much the same way that, for example, love languages can help or hinder the compatibility of romantic partners, conversational styles can create, by turns, friction and interest in platonic pairings.
-
Over time, the friendship became more than platonic.
-
In director caryn desai’s astute staging, the relationship between Claire and Julian unfolds as a sort of technological romance, platonic but richly layered.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'platonic.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Two Meanings of platonic
The two most common senses of platonic come from the same source, yet are different enough in meaning that it is rather important to distinguish between them. The original sense relates to the ancient Greek philosopher, Plato, or to his philosophy. It will always be capitalized. A secondary meaning that also stems from the name of the philosopher describes feelings or a relationship that are characterized by an absence of romance or sex (a platonic relationship in this sense might simply be called a friendship). This sense alludes to Plato’s belief that love between people could be so strong as to transcend physical attachments.
Origin and Etymology of platonic
Latin platonicus, from Greek platōnikos, from Platōn Plato
PLATONIC Defined for English Language Learners
platonic
playDefinition of platonic for English Language Learners
-
: of, relating to, or having a close relationship in which there is no romance or sex
Learn More about platonic
-
See words that rhyme with platonic Spanish Central: Translation of platonic Nglish: Translation of platonic for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of platonic for Arabic speakers
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up platonic? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!