Acoromantic

Acoromantic describes a romantic orientation or self-description for people who experience romantic attraction to others, but also feel a strong aversion to romantic relationships or to the idea of being in a romantic relationship themselves.

This aversion can have different reasons. It may be connected to past negative experiences, trauma, attachment patterns, or a need for autonomy, but it does not have to be. Acoromantic does not automatically mean that a person does not want closeness, affection, sexuality, or committed relationships; it mainly refers to romantic relationship concepts.

The term can be helpful when romantic attraction is present, but the desire for a romantic partnership is absent or experienced as unpleasant. As with all orientation terms, the individual decides whether “acoromantic” accurately describes their experience.