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philander

/fəˈlændər/
IPA guide

Other forms: philandering; philandered; philanders

To philander is to flirt or casually date a large number of people. If you philander, you don't have one steady, serious relationship, but instead dabble in many casual ones.

It's most common to say that a man philanders when he is excessively flirtatious or cheats on his partner with many other people. The word has both a sense of sneakiness and lightheartedness, and it comes from the now-obsolete noun philander, "husband" or "lover." The name Philander, in fact, was popular in 18th century literature for the character of a lover, from the Greek word philandros, "with love for the people."

Definitions of philander
  1. verb
    talk or behave amorously, without serious intentions
    see moresee less
    types:
    wanton
    engage in amorous play
    vamp
    act seductively with (someone)
    type of:
    speak, talk
    exchange thoughts; talk with
  2. verb
    have amorous affairs; of men
    synonyms: womanise, womanize
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    type of:
    interact
    act together or towards others or with others
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