Casual dating words
Situationship, Ghosting, NSA and DTF: Dating Terms Explained
What each word means, which dictionary says so and what to do about it.
A situationship is an unlabelled casual arrangement. Ghosting is cutting off contact without explanation. Wiktionary lists NSA as short for no strings attached and DTF as crude slang for being open to casual sex. Each term below names the dictionary behind it and, where one is recorded, the year it entered use.
Meeting terms
What do hookup, NSA and FWB actually mean?
- Hookup
- Dictionary.com labels it informal and defines it as a sexual encounter without commitment, or the person involved. Merriam-Webster dates the word to 1903, in an older, non-sexual sense.
- Casual sex
- Cambridge Dictionary defines casual sex as sexual activity between two people who are not a couple. Wikipedia adds that it implies no commitment or emotional attachment.
- One-night stand
- Merriam-Webster defines a one-night stand as a sexual encounter limited to a single occasion. Dictionary.com labels it slang and says the sexual sense was first recorded between 1935 and 1940.
- NSA
- Wiktionary lists NSA as short for ‘no strings attached’ and notes other meanings, such as the National Security Agency. Dictionary.com defines that phrase as without conditions or restrictions and dates it to the mid-1900s.
- Friends with benefits (FWB)
- Merriam-Webster defines it as a friend you have casual sex with, without commitment, and dates the phrase to 1997. Dictionary.com calls it a euphemism.
- Fling
- Merriam-Webster defines it as a casual or brief intimate involvement, and Collins as a brief sexual one between two people.
Modern dating words
Situationship and ghosting: spot them, then decide
Situationship
What it means. Merriam-Webster calls it slang for a loosely defined arrangement where two people are intimate but unclear what it is or what to expect. It dates the word to 2008.
How you spot it. You see each other on and off, plans stay loose, and ‘so what is this?’ gets a shrug.
What to do. Say what you want in one plain sentence and listen to theirs. If you want different things, step back kindly.
Ghosting
What it means. Merriam-Webster labels it informal and defines it as abruptly cutting off all contact with someone, usually without explanation. Wikipedia says the term began in the early 2000s.
How you spot it. Replies that used to arrive within the hour turn slow, then stop, and a friendly follow-up gets nothing back.
What to do. Send one follow-up if you like, then let it go: silence is an answer. If they resurface and you do not want them back, block them on the site.
Labels
What do DTF, cougar, MILF, GILF and BBW mean?
Reference sites record these words. That does not make them good opening lines.
| Term | What the source says | Note |
|---|---|---|
| DTF | Wiktionary: internet slang for being open to casual sex. | Crude slang. Keep it out of profiles and first messages. |
| Cougar | Merriam-Webster: slang for a middle-aged woman who looks for someone younger. | A note on Dictionary.com says it can offend, even as a compliment. |
| MILF | Merriam-Webster (informal, 1992): a sexually attractive older woman, especially one with children. | A longer read on the MILF section: what does MILF mean. |
| GILF | Wiktionary: vulgar slang for a grandparent seen as sexually attractive. | Modelled on MILF. |
| BBW | Wikipedia and Wiktionary: a positive term for a larger woman, short for big beautiful woman. Both date it to 1979, and both are edited by volunteers. | A longer read on the BBW section: what does BBW mean. Use it only if she does. |
Before you arrange a meet
Say it plainly
Slang is a shortcut that can send two people to different places. Wikipedia notes that hookup can mean kissing or any other physical sexual activity.
- Say what you want: one night, something regular, or a chat first.
- Say what you do not want, such as an overnight stay.
- Ask what any unfamiliar word means to them.
- Check again before you meet. Either of you can change your mind, as the consent and casual sex guide explains.
Put the same plain wording in your profile (see sex dating profile tips), then follow local sex dates to plan the meet. To see who is close, start with sex near me.
Dating terms: your questions
What is a situationship?
A situationship is a loosely defined arrangement where two people are intimate but have not agreed what it is. Merriam-Webster calls the word slang and dates it to 2008. It suits people who want the same thing, so say early what you want.
What does DTF mean?
DTF is crude internet slang for being open to casual sex, according to Wiktionary, which is edited by its users. Because the word is crude, a plain line such as ‘I am looking for something casual’ works better in a message.
What is ghosting in dating?
Ghosting is abruptly cutting off all contact with someone, usually without explanation, according to Merriam-Webster, which labels the word informal. Dictionary.com gives much the same meaning. If it happens to you, one friendly follow-up is plenty.
What does NSA mean in dating?
According to Wiktionary, NSA is short for ‘no strings attached’, a phrase Dictionary.com defines as without conditions or restrictions. In dating it points to casual sex with no commitment. NSA has other meanings too, so spell the phrase out in your profile.
Sources and dates
General information only: every meaning is paraphrased, so check the dictionary for its exact wording. Years show when a word is first recorded; the BBW and ghosting dates come from volunteer-edited sites.
- Merriam-Webster: situationship 2008, friend with benefits 1997, MILF 1992, hookup 1903 (older sense).
- Dictionary.com: situationship 2005 to 2010, one-night stand 1935 to 1940, no strings attached mid-1900s.
- Cambridge Dictionary (casual sex) and Collins Dictionary (fling): no year given.
- Wiktionary: BBW 1979; NSA, DTF and GILF, no year given.
- Wikipedia: ghosting early 2000s, BBW 1979; also casual sex and hookup.
Say what you want, then see who is local
Make a profile, pick your tags and see who is close.
Join now