paramour

Paramour is a noun meaning a romantic partner, especially one who is kept secret or engaged in an illicit relationship. While it can refer to a partner of any gender, the term carries a sense of discreetness and social taboo and is most often used to describe involvement outside a marriage or other committed relationship. In modern usage it is relatively formal or literary and less common in everyday speech, where 'lover' or 'affair partner' are more typical.

Originating in Old French par amour, literally "by love" or "for love," paramour entered English in the 16th century. It has since retained a literary tone and is frequently found in historical writing, novels, and poetry.

Paramour connotes secrecy and sometimes breach of trust. It does not imply legal status or consent beyond the relationship itself, and its connotations depend on context—often linked to adultery, marriage, or social scandal. In contemporary discussions, the term is mainly evocative, used to describe a relationship rather than to name a specific legal category.

Related terms include 'lover' and 'mistress' (the latter typically female and sometimes with illicit implications), as well as 'concubine' in historical contexts. The term remains recognizable but archaic in everyday speech, frequently used to evoke period settings or literary tone.