Aromanticism is a type romantic orientation – that is, an identity that can describe a persons relationship to romance or patterns of romantic attraction or interest.
Aromantic people’s experiences of romance (or the lack thereof) are often disconnected from normative societal expectations in some way. This can be due to experiencing little to no romantic attraction, due to feeling repulsed by romance, or due to being uninterested in romantic relationships.
Many aromantic people mention having trouble relating to the experience of “falling in love”, or of having romantic “crushes”. Many may pursue non-traditional forms of intimate relationships, or choose not to have formal “relationships” at all.
There is significant diversity in whether aromantic may or may not enjoy specific activities that are often coded as romantic (such as kissing), be uncomfortable with romance, be single or have a partner or be married – those are individual characteristics that vary widely from one aromantic person to another.
In addition, aromanticism also includes a whole range of related identities, often referred to as the “aromantic spectrum”, which include people who may not identify as strictly aromantic, but who find that the label is still a close fit and that they have a lot in common with the community. Some groups within the aromantic spectrum may also adopt new terms like grayromantic, demiromantic, lithromantic, quoiromantic, etc.
Source: Aromantic-spectrum Union for Recognition, Education, and Advocacy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the relationship between aromanticism and sexual orientation?
A: An aromantic person can have any sexual orientation, or they can have no sexual orientation. Aromanticism usually describes one’s relationship to attraction of a romantic kind and sexual orientation can describe one’s relationship to sexual attraction, so it’s possible to have both. Within the arospec community many people use the term split attraction model to describe their different relations to various attractions, including romantic and sexual. Others identify with one orientation, e.g. aromanticism, and it’s not unusual for them to experience the attraction as a monolith.
Q: Can aromantics love?
A: This depends – aromanticism doesn’t determine a person’s ability to feel love. The majority of aromantic people don’t experience romantic attraction and don’t fall in love. On the aromantic spectrum there are aromantic people who feel romantic attraction (be it infrequently or otherwise in a nonnormative way) and who can experience romantic love.
There are different kinds of love however – familial love, friendship, partnership, love for pets, love for nature, etc. and many aromantics experience love that is not romantic. There are also aromantics who do not feel any form of love, though it should not be suggested that they do not experience any sort of caring or emotion at all. Love is a subset of emotion after all, not it’s ultimate form.
Q: Are aromantics lonely without romantic relationships?
A: Romantic relationships aren’t the key factor to a person being lonely or not. What does factor into the experience of loneliness are a person’s needs for contact and closeness with others as well as how well they can realize those needs in the environment they’re in. For many alloromantic people, their primary support system is their romantic partner. Aromantic people may have support in friends, partners – romantic or otherwise, families, etc. It is the existence of that support system (or lack thereof) that is key to a person being lonely or not, regardless of their orientation.
Q: What kinds of relationships do aromantics have?
A: A lot of aromantics are happy to be single and make a choice not to change this, others pursue various partnered relationships. Some of these include queerplatonic relationships, romantic relationships, and chosen families. Aromantic people have friendships and family relationships that may be important to them, regardless of the choice to form partnered committed relationships or not. Sometimes the term nonamorous/nonpartnering is used to describe the choice to not get involved in committed relationships.
Terms
Romantic orientation
A label describing the usual patterns of a person’s romantic attraction or the lack of it.
Aromantic (aro)
- Commonly describes someone who experiences little to no romantic attraction, abbreviated to aro.It also describes someone whose experience of romance is disconnected from normative societal expectations, due to feeling repulsed by romance, or being uninterested in romantic relationships.
- Commonly used as a specific identity term by people who experience no romantic attraction.
Aromantic spectrum (arospec, aro)
- An umbrella term for all aromantic orientations, which emphasizes the diversity from no romantic attraction to nonnormative romantic attraction or experience with romance, abbreviated to arospec.
- Arospec is also used as a specific identity term describing someone who experiences conditional, unreliable or otherwise nonnormative romantic attraction, but doesn’t label it further.
Aromanticism
Noun form of aromantic.
Alloromantic
Describes a person who experiences romantic attraction or is not on the aromantic spectrum.
Popularized by: Queenie
Allosexual
Describes a person who experiences sexual attraction or is not on the asexual spectrum.
Coined by: Hezekiah (
Asexual (ace)
Commonly describes someone who experiences little to no sexual attraction, abbreviated to ace.
It also describes people whose experiences with sex are disconnected from normative societal expectations, due to feeling repulsed by or uninterested in sex.
Another common umbrella term for asexuals is asexual spectrum (acespec), analogous to aromantic spectrum but for sexual attraction.
Allo aro (aro allo)
An abbreviation of allosexual aromantic, a term people who are allosexual and aromantic use to describe themselves.
Flag
Aroace
An abbreviation of aromantic asexual, a term by which people who are aromantic and asexual describe themselves.
Flag variations (original, archived)
A spectrum (a-spec)
- An umbrella term for orientations based on conditional and no romantic and/or sexual attraction, that is aromantic and asexual spectra, abbreviated to a-spec. There are differing opinions about whether other identities or orientations also fall under the a-spec umbrella.
- A-spec is also used as a specific identity describing someone who doesn’t differentiate their experiences of conditional or no attraction into types.
Coined by: Whes and Strategicgoat and Warriorsdebt
Flag variations (original, archived)
Amatonormativity
The widespread assumption that everyone is better off in an exclusive, romantic, long-term coupled relationship, and that everyone is seeking such a relationship.
Coined by: Philosopher and professor Elizabeth Brake
Aromisia / Arophobia
The dislike of or prejudice against aromantic people. Aromisia is an alternative term to arophobia, which has been criticized as being ableist for its conflation with a diagnosable phobia or fear.
Non-SAM aro
Describes an aromantic person who does not use the Split Attraction Model (SAM) to characterize their orientation. Non-SAM aros do not identify with an allosexual or asexual spectrum orientation, regardless of whether or not they experience sexual attraction.
There are also other terms that people use as synonyms for non-SAM aro, and there is ongoing discussion about which ones might be preferred by the community.
A similar term that is not defined in relation to the SAM is Unit aro.
Queerplatonic (quasiplatonic) Relationship (QPR)
A committed non-romantic relationship that departs from what is the subjective cultural norm for a friendship. Levels of intimacy and/or behaviors between the partners involved often don’t fit the conventional standards set by society. Some QPRs can include sex and elements that are generally considered romantic. In practice every queerplatonic relationship is different. Abbreviated to QPR, and queerplatonic (quasiplatonic) partner to QPP. Another common word for QPP used to be zucchini.
Coined by: Meloukhia and Kaz (original, archived)
History of the word (original, archived)
Split Attraction Model (SAM)
Some aromantics use the SAM to make a distinction between experiences of attraction depending on certain characteristics, conceptualizing them as different types of attraction. A person who uses the SAM to describe themselves may experience different types of attraction as distinctive and decide to label the attractions separately. It’s not a model that works to describe everyone’s experiences, and there are some disagreements about its history.
Attraction and Relationship Terms
VOCABULARY IN THE AROMANTIC COMMUNITY RELATING TO ATTRACTION AND RELATIONSHIPS
This glossary is a continuously updating record of terms that have been and are being used in the aromantic community by at least one person. As a record, this glossary is meant to document the various concepts that are thought up when the language is not sufficient to describe people’s experiences and doesn’t encourage or discourage the use of any term.
Please keep in mind these are shortened definitions and identities can be nuanced. This glossary was last updated in Oct 2021.
*Terms that are not commonly used by the community or are newly emerging are marked with an asterisk (*)
Romantic attraction
An interest or desire for romantic contact or interaction with a particular person. This type of attraction often comes with strong feelings, usually infatuation and the wish to form a romantic relationship with that person.
Crush – an intense feeling of romantic attraction to a person.
Sexual attraction
An interest or desire for sexual contact or interaction with a particular person.
Smush – the sexual equivalent of a crush. A smush is an intense feeling of sexual attraction to a person.
Tertiary attraction
An umbrella term that includes types of attraction that are not strictly categorizable into romantic attraction or sexual attraction.
Aesthetic attraction
An interest or strong appreciation for a particular person’s appearance or beauty.
Swish – the aesthetic equivalent of a crush. A swish is an intense feeling of aesthetic attraction to a person.
Alterous attraction
An interest or desire for emotional closeness without necessarily being platonic and/or romantic. Alterous is often used in the place of -romantic or -sexual suffixes (e.g., bialterous instead of biromantic).
- A significant attraction that is related to other attractions (e.g., romantic)
- A significant attraction that is unrelated to any other attraction
Coined by: Schizotypal-scully (original, archived)
Flag variations (original, archived)
Mesh – the alterous equivalent of a crush. A mesh is an intense feeling of alterous attraction to a person.
Exteramo attraction*
A significant interest or desire for emotional closeness with a particular person, that falls outside of platonic and/or romantic attraction.
Coined by: Aromanticrey (original, archived)
Fluitic attraction*
An interest or desire to have a wavership with a particular person.
Coined by: Wavership (original, archived)
Platonic attraction
An interest or desire for friendship or other close relationship with a particular person. Most often, this relationship is non-romantic and non-sexual, but this can vary depending on the person.
Squish
- The platonic equivalent of a crush. A squish is an intense feeling of platonic attraction, commonly mistaken with ‘just wanting to be friends with someone.’
- The equivalent of a crush for other types of attraction. Sometimes used as a catch-all term for other types of non-romantic non-sexual attractions.
Coined by: Raisin a.k.a. A-gent Raisin (original, archived)
Sensual attraction
An interest or desire to touch or be physically close to someone, in a non-sexual way such as hugging or cuddling.
Lush – the sensual equivalent of a crush. A lush is an intense feeling of sensual attraction to a person.
Amorous / partnering*
Describes an aromantic person who wishes to form a significant partnership with others. The opposite of nonamorous (not everyone finds this category of description relevant).
Aplatonic
Describes a person who experiences little to no platonic attraction. This means they rarely or never experience squishes, which are strong desires to form a friendship with a particular person.
Coined by: Mr. Shuttershy
Flag variations (original, archived)
Aplatonic spectrum (aplspec)
- An umbrella term for people who experience little to no platonic attraction, abbreviated to aplspec.
- Aplspec is also used as a specific identity describing someone who experiences conditional or otherwise non normative platonic attraction, but doesn’t label it further. Platonic is often used in the place of -romantic or -sexual suffixes (e.g., demiplatonic instead of demiromantic).
Flag variations (original, archived)
Appromour*
Describes a relationship or partner that is not romantic. It may not quite fit the definition of a queerplatonic relationship or queerplatonic partner either. Appromour is a way to describe a relationship that may seem like a romantic relationship to oneself or outside observers but is decidedly still not romantic.
Coined by: Pixelprattlexp
Amatopunk*
Challenging notions of what it means to be in a relationship, defining love, and how important each form of it is to society.
Coined by: Kenochoric (original)
Flag (original)
Aromate*
Describes a platonic friend who fulfills the role of a soulmate in a nonromantic way.
Coined by: Caeghost (original, archived)
Chosen family / Found family
A group of individuals who, based on emotional closeness, deliberately choose one another to play significant roles in each other’s lives and consider each other family even though they are not biologically or legally related.
Ethical non-monogamy
A broad umbrella term that describes relationships or a desire for relationships with more than one partner involved. All partners consent to the relationships and regularly communicate about their terms on equitable footing.
There are many types of ethical non-monogamy, including open relationships, swinging, polyamory, and relationship anarchy.
Foveo*
Describes a partner in a relationship is not inherently romantic nor platonic, but features physical and/or sexual attraction and intimacy. Created as an alternative to “friends with benefits”.
Coined by: Lollie (original)
Monogamy repulsion*
A measurement of how much a person feels uncomfortable with components of monogamy (sexual, emotional, social, and activity) being displayed or directed at them.
Coined by: Mark (original, archived)
Nonamorous / Nonpartnering
Describes a person who does not wish to form a significant partnership with others.
Nonamorous coined by: Anagnori
Nonpartnering coined by: Omitef#7790 on Arocalypse Discord
Flag variations (original, archived)
Paramour*
Describes a friend that one has a significant sexual relationship with.
Coined by: Alexei (archived)
Peach fuzz*
When Queerplatonic Partners pretend to be in a romantic relationship to stave off questions from friends and family asking why they’re not dating anyone.
Coined by: Sleepyspoonie
Polyaffectionate
Describes a person who practices or desires non-romantic and/or non-sexual affectionate relationships where individuals have more than one partner, with the knowledge and consent of all partners. A type of polyamory that is explicitly non-romantic and/or non-sexual.
Polyamory
The practice of, or desire for, intimate relationships where individuals may have more than one partner, with the knowledge and consent of all partners. Individuals who practice polyamory are called polyamorous.
Flag variations (original, archived)
Queerplatonic (quasiplatonic) relationship (QPR)
A committed non-romantic relationship that goes beyond what is the subjective cultural norm for a friendship. Levels of intimacy and/or behaviors between the partners involved often don’t fit the conventional standards set by society. Some QPRs can include sex and elements that are generally considered romantic. In practice every queerplatonic relationship is different. Abbreviated to QPR, and queerplatonic (quasiplatonic) partner to QPP. Another common word for QPP used to be zucchini.
Coined by: Meloukhia and Kaz
A helpful source (original, archived)
Flag variations (original, archived)
Plush/Squash – the queerplatonic equivalent of a crush. A plush/squash is a desire to enter into a queerplatonic relationship with a particular person.
Semi-SAM*
A type of application of the Split Attraction Model (SAM). The semi-SAM is fluctuation in how one can classify their identity. For example, sometimes identifying under a SAM model feels appropriate, while at other times it does not. It can also be used if one feels a particular identity takes priority, but does not wish to disregard any other identities.
Coined by: Black-aros (archived)
Soft romo
An adjective to describe something that is low-level romantic. A soft romo relationship is defined by the coiner as somewhere in between a queerplatonic and a romantic relationship.
Coined by: Viola (original, archived)
Romance repulsed / averse / indifferent / favorable
An axis describing a person’s level of comfort with actions that are perceived as romantic directed at them or displays of them (in person or in media). The level of comfort may be dynamic and conditional.
Romance repulsed/averse – describes a person who is mildly to severely uncomfortable with romance directed at them or displays of romantic affections.
Romance indifferent – describes a person who is neither uncomfortable with nor particularly enthusiastic about romance directed at them or displays of romantic affections.
Romance favorable – describes a person who is comfortable with and may enjoy romance or displays of romantic affections.
Relationship anarchy
The belief that no kinds of intimate relationships are superior to others, despite some being more highly valued in society. It is usually non-monogamous and is based on the premise that a relationship doesn’t have to conform to socially-prescribed norms. Community interdependence is another important facet of RA (“community not couples”). Opposed to amatonormativity and not specific to aromantics.
Coined by: Andie Nordgren
Singlism
The stigmatization of or discrimination against people who are single.
Coined by: Bella DePaulo
Touch averse
Describes a person who is mildly to severely uncomfortable with physical touch. The level of discomfort may be dynamic and conditional.
Varioriented / Mixed orientation identity
Any combination of a sexual orientation and romantic orientation that do not “match up,” or share the same gender preference. For example, aromantic pansexual, biromantic heterosexual, homoromantic asexual, etc. are mixed orientation identities. Also called cross-orientation sexuality.
Venusplatonic*
Describes a person who does not want romance or a romantic relationship, but considers strong platonic love and relationships very important, including exclusive ones like QPRs. Also describes a person who experiences some sort of tetritary attraction.
Coined by: reggiestein.v (original)
Flag (original)
Voidpunk
A movement of rejecting one’s own human identity in response to systemic dehumanization. Voidpunk is a way of coping with dehumanization by reclaiming it. Not specific to aromantic people.
Coined by: Arotaro and Milkchocolatebowl (original, archived)
Flag (archived)
Wavership*
Describes a relationship that fluctuates or is fluid between different kinds of relationships.
Coined by: Wavership
Zedromantic*
Describes a person who experiences romantic attraction or is not on the aromantic spectrum. An alternate term to alloromantic.
Coined by: Arco-pluris
Identity Terms
Common identities on the aromantic spectrum
This glossary is a continuously updating record of terms that have been and are being used in the aromantic community. As a record, this glossary is meant to document the various concepts that are thought up when the language is not sufficient to describe people’s experiences and doesn’t encourage or discourage the use of any term.
*Identity terms on the aromantic spectrum that are not commonly used by the community or are newly emerging are marked with an asterisk (*)
Please keep in mind these are shortened definitions and identities can be nuanced. This glossary was last updated in October 2021.
Acoromantic*
Describes a person whose negative experiences with romance have alienated them from their alloromanticism.
Flag variations (original, archived)
Abroromantic
Describes a person who experiences a fluid or rapidly changing romantic attraction to people of different gender expressions.
Adfecturomantic / Affecturomantic / Adfectual / Adfomantic*
Describes a person whose romantic attraction is affected by their neurodivergency.
Aegoromantic / Autochorisromantic
Describes a person who enjoys the idea of romance, but does not wish to be a participant in romantic activities. A romantic parallel to aegosexual/autochorissexual, an idea first theorized by Anthony Bogaert (original, archived).
Coined by: Eridanamporadefensesquad on Tumblr
Flag variations (original,archived)
Aliquaromantic *
Describes a person who experiences romantic attraction only under certain circumstances.
Allo aro (aro allo)
An abbreviation of allosexual aromantic, a term people who are allosexual and aromantic use to describe themselves.
Amicusromantic*
Describes a person who experiences romantic attraction only to people they are platonically attracted to or are friends with.
Coined by: Pastelmemer a.k.a. Pastelroswell on Tumblr
Angled aroace
Describes a person on the aromantic and asexual spectra, who experiences a form of attraction other than romantic or sexual, but is significant enough to warrant a place alongside their aroace orientation. This label is for use by arospec asexual, aromantic acespec, and arospec acespec people.
Coined by: Black-aros
Apathromantic*
Describes a person who may or may not experience romantic attraction, but is indifferent to receiving it or acting on it.
Apothiromantic / Antiromantic*
Describes a person who does not experience any romantic attraction whatsoever, in any shape or form, and is romance repulsed.
Coined by: Autisutehk on Tumblr
Flag variations (original,archived)
Note: A definition for antiromantic that is now out of use is “a person who would prefer not to develop romantic feelings for people, but does anyway.”
Apresromantic*
Describes a person who only experiences romantic attraction after another form of attraction is felt. The original attraction may or may not fade/be replaced by the new attraction.
Coined by: Pastelmemer a.k.a. Pastelroswell on Tumblr
Aroace
An abbreviation of aromantic asexual, a term by which people who are aromantic and asexual describe themselves.
Flag variations (original, archived)
Aroflux
- Describes a person whose romantic orientation fluctuates but always stays on the aromantic spectrum.
- Describes a person whose romantic orientation fluctuates between aromantic and alloromantic.
Coined by: Ngc2068
Flag variations (original, archived)
Arogender
Describes a gender which is significantly connected to one’s aromanticism. It can be any gender identity influenced by having an aromantic spectrum identity. It can be used as a standalone gender label or in conjunction with others; for example, one could be an arogender boy.
Coined by: Arokaladin
Aromantic (aro)
- Describes a person whose experience of romance is disconnected from normative societal expectations, commonly due to experiencing little to no romantic attraction, but also due to feeling repulsed by romance, or being uninterested in romantic relationships.
- Commonly used as a specific identity term by people who experience no romantic attraction.FlagSee also: FAQ
Aromid*
Describes someone that is strictly aromantic, but not strictly asexual, while still being on the asexual spectrum. The person may or may not use additional terms for their sexuality.
Coined by: star-allos (original)
Arospike
Describes a person whose romantic orientation fluctuates very rapidly, skyrocketing into intense attraction, then plummeting down to feeling no attraction again.
Flag variations (original, archived)
Arovague
Describes a person whose status as an aromantic person is unclear or affected by mood.
Coined by: Gcdzilla (original, archived)
Aspectusromantic*
Describes a person who can appear to have an attraction, but in reality they do not feel that attraction at all. They tend to act in ways that most people would assume alloromantic people do.
Bellusromantic
Describes a person who has interest in conventionally romantic actions, yet does not desire a romantic relationship.
Coined by: Shygu on Tumblr
Flag variations (original, archived)
Borearomantic*
Describes a person who has a set romantic orientation, with an exception, usually revolving around a single person. A borearomantic person can be aromantic or alloromantic.
Flag variations (original, archived)
Burstromantic*
Describes a person whose romantic attraction comes in sudden bursts, then vanishes or fades away. There may or may not be a reason for the changes. The opposite of ceaseromantic.
Caed(o)romantic*
Describes a person who used to experience romantic attraction, but no longer does due to past trauma.
Caligoromantic*
Describes a person whose feelings of attraction are very weak or vague, almost nonexistent, like a vapor, fog, or mist.
Coined by: Terribledactyl on Tumblr
Cassromantic*
Describes a person who feels utterly indifferent to romantic attraction or feels that it isn’t important.
Flag variations (original, archived)
Ceaseromantic*
Describes a person who is usually alloromantic, but occasionally has a complete loss of attraction for a period of time. The opposite of burstromantic.
Flag variations (original, archived)
Cupioromantic / Kalosromantic
Describes a person who does not experience romantic attraction, but still desires a romantic relationship.
Cupio coined by: Aro-ace-wonderwoman a.k.a. Louaxel
Kalos coined by: Acelyssie
Flag variations (original, archived)
Demiromantic
Describes a person who only experiences romantic attraction after developing an emotional connection.
Demi coined by: Sonofzeal
Demiromantic coined by: HD Ready
Dependromantic / Requiromantic / Exige(n)romantic / Cruxromantic*
Describes a person who only experiences romantic attraction within one’s depended(s). This term can be used to describe romantic attraction felt solely within the context of Dependent Personality Disorder.
Coined by: Anti-god on Tumblr
Flag variations (original, archived)
Desinoromantic*
Describes a person who does not experience full-on romantic attraction, but experiences “liking” someone instead of “loving” them romantically, at which point the attraction ends.
Coined by: Pastelmemer a.k.a. Pastelroswell on Tumblr
Dreadromantic*
Describes a person whose romantic orientation fluctuates from feeling no attraction to feeling attraction. When attraction is felt, it is accompanied by a strong feeling of dread or anxiety.
Duoromantic*
Describes a person who has two or more well-defined orientations that they switch between (e.g., cupioromantic and frayromantic).
Duo coined by: Sto
Duraromantic*
Describes a person who rarely experiences romantic attraction, but when it they do, it lasts for a long time.
Flag variations (original, archived)
Fictoromantic*
Describes a person who experiences romantic attraction towards fictional characters. This can be an arospec identity if the person experiences little to no attraction towards real people.
Flag (original)
Frayromantic / Ignotaromantic / Protoromantic
Describes a person who experiences romantic attraction towards strangers and people they are less familiar with, which fades away when they get to know them more.
Fray coined by: Edensmachine on Tumblr
Ignota coined by: Arcresources
Flag variations (original, archived)
Greyromantic (grey aromantic)
- Describes a person who feels romantic attraction very rarely, weakly, unreliably or gains/loses attraction in unusual or unknown circumstances.
- Can also be used as an umbrella term for orientations on the aromantic spectrum except for aromantics who don’t experience romantic attraction at all.
Grey coined by: KPsaz
Greyromantic coined by: Shortass Lady
Flag variations (original, archived)
Iamvanoromantic*
Describes a person who feels little to no desire to be the giver of romantic gestures but expresses interest/desire in receiving them from someone else. An iamvanoromantic person can be aromantic or alloromantic.
Idemromantic*
Describes a person who does not internally experience romantic and platonic attraction differently. They distinguish between romantic and platonic based on other factors, such as age, personality compatibility, and ease of living together.
Coined by: Aspiring-to-wisdom
Implaromantic / Inexromantic*
Describes a person who is never satisfied with their orientation due to constant self-doubt, causing them to search and seek out something that fits as perfect as possible.
Impla coined by: Ash-doggie
Inex coined by: Pride-color-schemes
Flag variations (original,archived)
Inactoromantic / Initiaromantic*
Describes a person who experiences romantic attraction and wants a romantic relationship but doesn’t like romantic actions.
Flag variations (original, archived)
Limnoromantic*
Describes a person who experiences attraction only when engaging with depictions of attraction (e.g., drawings, writing), not when engaging with the acts themselves in real life.
Lithflux / Akoiflux*
- Describes a person who experiences romantic attraction and only sometimes desires for it to be reciprocated.
- Describes a person who experiences romantic attraction and has that attraction fade once in a relationship, but may come and go again throughout.
Coined by: Wavership (original, archived)
Lithromantic / Aporomantic / Akoi(ne)romantic
- Describes a person who can feel romantic attraction towards others and enjoys romantic relationships in theory, but does not need that affection to be reciprocated or to be in a relationship with the one the feelings are directed towards.
- Describes a person who may stop feeling romantic attraction once in a relationship or stop enjoying it.
Coined by: Ian a.k.a. Stopanthropomorphizingme and Cisphobeofficial respectively
Flag variations (original, archived)
Loveless aromantic
Describes a person on the aromantic spectrum who feels disconnected from the concept of love, does not experience love, or rejects the idea of personally experiencing love. Loveless aros may experience other attractions, but do not equate these attractions to love.
Coined by: K.A. Cook
Flag (original)
Malaromantic*
Describes a person who only experiences romantic attraction during maladaptive daydreams.
Metaromantic*
Describes a person who only experiences attraction that is unable to be defined by strict terms of platonic or romantic.
Coined by: Pastelmemer a.k.a. Pastelroswell on Tumblr
Nebularomantic
Describes a person who has difficulty or inability to tell romantic attraction apart from platonic due to their neurodivergency.
Coined by: Nonpuellamagi
Neuroromantic
Describes a person whose romantic orientation is affected by their neurodivergency in some way. Neuroromantic is often used as an umbrella term for neurodivergence-influenced identities.
Coined by: Pastelmemer a.k.a. Pastelroswell on Tumblr
Neu(tro) aro / Neutral aro / Arohaze / Aromush / Arovoid*
Describes an aromantic person whose identity on the allosexual-asexual spectrum and/or on other orientation spectra is neutral, in-between, multiple, or unclear.
Neu(tro)/Neutral aro coined by: A-romantic–aromantic
Neu(tro)/Neutral aro Flag (original, archived)
Arohaze/Aromush coined by: Liquidlikecats
Arohaze/aromush Flag (archived)
Arovoid coined by: Aroaceitup
Arovoid Flag (original,archived)
Non-SAM aro
Describes an aromantic person who does not use the Split Attraction Model (SAM) to characterize their orientation. Non-SAM aros do not identify with an allosexual or asexual spectrum orientation, regardless of whether or not they experience sexual attraction.
There are also other terms that people use as synonyms for non-SAM aro, and there is ongoing discussion about which ones might be preferred by the community.
A similar term that is not defined in relation to the SAM is Unit aro.
Noviromantic*
Describes a person who experiences a complicated romantic attraction (or lack thereof) such that they do not feel it can be described in a single term.
Coined by: Romeoisadick on Tumblr
Flag variations (original,archived)
Omniaromantic / Panaromantic*
Describes a person who feels no romantic attraction whatsoever. In no way, shape, or form do they fall in love or feel any attraction to anyone.
Oriented aroace
Describes an aromantic and asexual person who experiences a form of attraction that is neither romantic nor sexual, but is significant enough to warrant a place alongside their aroace orientation. This label was specifically created for aroaces who never experience romantic or sexual attraction.
Coined by: Bioaroace
Perioriented
Any combination of a sexual orientation and romantic orientation that “match up,” or share the same gender preference. Some examples include aromantic asexual, heteroromantic heterosexual, biromantic bisexual, etc.
Placioromantic*
Describes a person who feels little to no desire to be the receiver of romantic gestures but expresses interest/desire in performing them on someone else. A placioromantic person can be aromantic or alloromantic.
Coined by: Athomewithmargaery on Tumblr
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Plat(oni)romantic*
Describes a person who feels no distinction between platonic and romantic attraction.
Coined by: Novusnova on Tumblr
Polarromantic*
Describes a person who switches between being either extremely attracted and not at all attracted to someone.
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Post rubor*
Describes a person who quickly gets crushes on others, but they don’t develop into more stable attachment after the initial excitement of the crush vanishes.
Coined by: Wintertendrils
Preromantic*
Describes a person who feels that they have not experienced attraction enough to know their orientation yet.
Primaro / Archaro*
Describes a person who feels that their aromantic identity is more important than other identities or is their “primary” or most important identity. Can be thought of to be an experience under the non-SAM/unit aro umbrella.
Primaro coined by: Reesexaviergonzales
Primaro as a subset of non-SAM/unit aro proposed by: Arokeladry
Archaro coined by: Arokeladry
Propeestromantic*
Describes a person whose identity feels like a mix of many (any more than two) aromantic spectrum identities that all are a part of one identity.
Coined by: Alex a.k.a. Knifegoth on Tumblr
Quasiromantic*
Describes a person who may see their attraction as non-traditional in some way.
Coined by: Jadekarkat
Quoiromantic / WTFromantic
- Describes a person who doesn’t understand romance, romantic attraction, or romantic orientation and feels as if those categories are nonsensical, inapplicable, or inaccessible so they disidentify with those labels.
A helpful source (original, archived) - Describes a person who experiences confusion or frustration when trying to differentiate between and apply platonic and romantic attraction to their personal experiences, and therefore is not sure if they experience it.
Quoi coined by: Cor
WTF coined by: Sciatrix
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Recipromantic
Describes a person who feels romantic attraction only if the other person feels romantic attraction toward them first.
Coined by: Brooke
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Requi(es)romantic*
Describes a person who feels little to no romantic attraction due to mental or emotional exhaustion. The exhaustion may or may not have been caused by bad experiences of romance in that person’s past.
Coined by: Gay4dragons on Tumblr
Romo aro
Describes a person who is on the aromantic spectrum and experiences romantic attraction in some way or who desires/is in a romantic relationship. Stands for “romantic aromantic.”
Flags (original)
Schromantic*
Describes a person who is aromantic and alloromantic at the same time, or some mix of the two.
Coined on AVEN
Singuluromantic*
Describes a person who only experiences one type of attraction towards people (i.e. if they experience sexual attraction towards a person, they won’t feel romantic/alterous/platonic attraction towards them).
Thymromantic*
Describes a person who feels romantic attraction which varies depending on emotional state.
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Unit aro / Unicum aro / Solaro*
Describes an aromantic person who identifies only or primarily as aromantic, centering their aromantic identity as their preferred unit.
This term was proposed as an alternative to non-SAM aro, as some aros who technically fit the definition disliked the term “non-SAM” for defining them in relation to what they are not rather than what they are.
Unit aro coined by: aro-neir-o `
Unicum aro coined by: Magni
Unicum aro as a subset of non-SAM/unit aro proposed by: Arokeladry
Solaro coined by: Arokeladry
Unit aroace*
Describes aroaces that don’t view their aro and ace identities as separate or split, but rather one unit.
Coined by: aroacepagans
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Last Updated: 2/6/2025 1:12
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