sweetheart

1 of 2

noun

sweet·​heart ˈswēt-ˌhärt How to pronounce sweetheart (audio)
plural sweethearts
1
a
used as a term of endearment
Jin-Ho's mother said, "The binky is all gone, sweetheart," but Xiu-Mei wouldn't hush.Anne Tyler
b
used as an informal term of address
As the nurse prepared her shot, Grace sat on her mother's lap. … "This won't take two seconds," the nurse said. "My name's Nina. What's your name, sweetheart?"Bonnie Washuk
Chuck Tranium is the president of a talent agency, where he wears alligator shirts and calls his secretaries "sweetheart."Lucinda Franks
2
: someone who is loved
often, specifically : a romantic partner
… a music studio manager who plans to wed her college sweetheart this fall. Jennifer Oldham
3
: favorite entry 1 sense 1
It only makes sense that Vogue would choose America's sweetheart Jennifer Lawrence to grace the cover of its 125th September issue.Andrea Park
Heck, Mike Wallace isn't everybody's sweetheart either but he certainly contributes a lot to the success of 60 Minutes.Don Merrill
4
: a generally likable person
Some customers are total sweethearts. Others require a tremendous amount of hand-holding, follow-up service, and support.Paul B. Brown
especially : one who is kind and gentle
Most important, she often stays a few minutes to chat. … "She's a real sweetheart," an … elderly woman tells me. "What would I do without her?" Chris Jerome
It was often through this task—which he approached with a blend of gentle, down-to-earth humor and humility—that he gained the respect and adoration of many agents. It was common to be approached at trade shows by agents saying, "Tell Matt he is such a sweetheart." Kenneth Shapiro
5
: a remarkable one of its kind
The Camaro was a sweetheart except for its Wiesmann gearbox, which had me thoroughly befuddled.Car and Driver

see also sweetheart deal

sweetheart

2 of 2

adjective

: of or relating to an agreement between an employer and a labor union official arranged privately for their benefit usually at the expense of the workers
a sweetheart contract
broadly : arranged in private for the benefit of a few at the expense of many
a sweetheart deal

Examples of sweetheart in a Sentence

Noun Be a sweetheart and help your grandmother. She is such a little sweetheart.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The high school sweethearts tied the knot in 2022 after first starting dating in 2012. Becca Longmire, Peoplemag, 25 Mar. 2024 The Chapman University graduate married her college sweetheart. Bryan West, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2024 High school sweethearts at Apollo High School in Owensboro, the duo met through marching band. Maggie Menderski, The Courier-Journal, 21 Mar. 2024 Marissa and Mike Mitchell, of Newburgh, Ind., met in seventh grade and became sweethearts. Louise Rafkin, New York Times, 29 Feb. 2024 The future looks bright for Kelce–and his new romance–thanks to the pair becoming America’s sweethearts. Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024 Then there’s her public persona: the acerbic, witty, deadpan, Ellen-ruining, lime-lying Dakota that has, in her own way, become America’s sweetheart. Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 16 Feb. 2024 The high school sweethearts — who tied the knot in March 2022 — both shared snaps from their stay at the stunning beachside hotel Chileno Bay Resorts & Residences and adjoining Chileno Bay Golf & Beach Club earlier in March. Natalia Senanayake, Peoplemag, 13 Mar. 2024 Weber turned down a scholarship to Louisiana State University to marry his high school sweetheart. Jessica Guynn, USA TODAY, 6 Mar. 2024
Adjective
This romantic shade is perfect for a sweetheart French manicure. Danielle Sinay, Glamour, 31 Jan. 2024 But meanwhile, the European Commission is pressing on with its campaign against sweetheart corporate tax deals. David Meyer, Fortune, 24 Sep. 2020 In exchange for a sweetheart deal, the company will bring tens of thousands of high-paying jobs and spend $5 billion in capital expenditures. Alex Shephard, New Republic, 19 Jan. 2018

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sweetheart.' 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

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1942, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sweetheart was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near sweetheart

Cite this Entry

“Sweetheart.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sweetheart. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

sweetheart

noun
sweet·​heart
ˈswēt-ˌhärt
: a person whom one loves

More from Merriam-Webster on sweetheart

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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