courtship

noun

court·​ship ˈkȯrt-ˌship How to pronounce courtship (audio)
: the act, process, or period of courting

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 Crows and ravens also famously engage in ritualistic foraging behavior for courtship. Matt Benoit, Discover Magazine, 1 Mar. 2024 There’s a sense that Chalamet has not just stepped into the role but stepped up his game to play Paul 2.0, even if his coy courtship of Zendaya’s character occasionally veers into heartthrob’s-gonna-heartthrob territory. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 21 Feb. 2024 Another possibility is that men adopted the guise as a means of courtship. Susan Portnoy, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Jan. 2024 The birds use this time for courtship and nest-building activity. Erin Couch, The Enquirer, 25 Jan. 2024 At the beginning of their courtship, DiMaggio was 37 and had just finished his baseball career; Monroe was 25 and in her prime. Frederic J. Frommer, Kansas City Star, 18 Feb. 2024 Meghan Markle used her Valentine's Day outfit as a symbol of her affection for Prince Harry, wearing items that might look familiar to those who followed their early courtship. Virginia Chamlee, Peoplemag, 15 Feb. 2024 Another male has entered Annie’s life, and the early stages of courtship have begun. Joan Morris, The Mercury News, 12 Feb. 2024 Every spring, the pair would repeat the courtship dance and the artificial-insemination process. Elaine Godfrey, The Atlantic, 10 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'courtship.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1596, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of courtship was in 1596

Dictionary Entries Near courtship

Cite this Entry

“Courtship.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/courtship. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

courtship

noun
court·​ship -ˌship How to pronounce courtship (audio)
: the act or process of courting

More from Merriam-Webster on courtship

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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