bromances

A bromance is a close, non-sexual friendship between men that features emotional openness, affectionate behavior, and strong mutual support. The term is a portmanteau of brother and romance and began to appear in late 20th-century American English, gaining broad popularity in the 2000s through media coverage and pop culture.

Bromances are typically marked by frequent bonding activities, candid conversations, mutual loyalty, trust, and public demonstrations of affection that reinforce the bond. Some scholars distinguish bromance from more general male camaraderie by emphasizing emotional intimacy and a willingness to discuss personal issues beyond shared hobbies.

In media and culture, bromance has been used to describe celebrity friendships, film plots, and TV relationships that foreground non-sexual closeness between male protagonists; notable examples include I Love You, Man (2009) and a broader wave of bromantic humor. The concept can advance discussions of masculinity by normalizing vulnerability, but it can also risk stereotyping or trivializing gendered expectations or erasing the diversity of LGBTQ+ relationships.

Overall, bromance reflects a recognized form of friendship that emphasizes emotional connection, loyalty, and mutual care within a male bond.