courtship

American  

[kawrt-ship, kohrt-] / ˈkɔrt ʃɪp, ˈkoʊrt- /

noun

1. the wooing of one person by another.

2. the period during which such wooing takes place.

3. solicitation of favors, applause, etc.

4. Ethology. behavior in animals that occurs before and during mating, often including elaborate displays.

5. Obsolete. courtly behavior; courtesy; gallantry.

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courtship British  

/ ˈkɔːtʃɪp /

noun

1. the act, period, or art of seeking the love of someone with intent to marry

2. the seeking or soliciting of favours

3. obsolete courtly behaviour

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Etymology

Origin of courtship

First recorded in 1580–90; court + -ship

Example Sentences

And that courtship is likely to start again this season.

From BBC • Mar. 5, 2026

"I have been given a third contact and we have started courtship," said Suleiman.

From Barron's • Feb. 13, 2026

But this one stretches a basic courtship that could be covered in about 90 minutes, tops, over nine episodes and a total runtime landing between seven and eight hours.

From Salon • Feb. 12, 2026

The growth, fans say, reflects a reality about many college kids: They’re intimidated by real-life courtship and overwhelmed by the endless scroll of dating apps.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 10, 2026

Then she opened her rosewood box wherein were the letters her husband had written to her in courtship and since.

From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck

Related Words

• courting
• engagement
• pursuit