dalliance

noun

dal·li·ance ˈda-lē-ən(t)s

Synonyms of dalliance

: an act of dallying: such as

: play

especially : amorous play

had several dalliances before getting married

: frivolous action : trifling

had a brief dalliance with acting

Examples of dalliance in a Sentence

an extremely serious scientist who is not much given to dalliance or idle chitchat

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Hans Op de Beeck’s first dalliance with a luxury house feels a lot like his art — hushed, contemplative, and slightly under the radar. — Miles Socha, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2026 Jumpstarted by LaVell Edwards, the true father of the air raid offense, BYU has maintained national relevance through various conference iterations and even a dalliance with independence. — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026 This is hardly the duo’s first dalliance with retail; in fact, physical stores have long been part of the business model. — Max Berlinger, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2026 That dalliance reaches a potentially lethal tipping point that leaves Satoko in the hospital, newly inspired to create a romantic fairytale of her own. — James Marsh, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dalliance

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of dalliance was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century

Browse Nearby Words

dalli

dalliance

Dallis grass

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Dalliance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dalliance. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

dalliance

noun

dal·li·ance ˈdal-ē-ən(t)s

: play entry 1 sense 2

especially : the act of flirting

: action lacking in importance or seriousness

a short dalliance with politics

dalliance

noun

Synonyms of dalliance

Examples of dalliance in a Sentence

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

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