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Definition of paramour

paramour

/ˈpær.ə.mʊər/
par · a · mour
Plural:paramours
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paramour Lexical Profile

paramour Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A lover, especially the illicit partner of a married person.

Example

"The historical biography revealed that the duke had secretly purchased a country estate for his longtime paramour."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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Word Nuance & Usage

While historically used neutrally for any romantic sweetheart, in modern English 'paramour' almost always implies an illicit or extramarital lover and is used in literary, journalistic, or legal contexts.

• Nearby Words

parameter
paramilitary
paramount
paramour
parana
paranaiba
paranapanema

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed into Middle English from the Old French phrase par amour ('by love' or 'through love'), ultimately derived from Latin per ('through') and amor ('love').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Paramour. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/paramour
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