paramour
noun
par·amour
ˈper-ə-ˌmu̇r 
ˈpa-rə-
: lover
specifically
: an illicit or secret lover
a married man and his paramour
Her account put him in the position of looking like the duped lover believing the cheating married paramour's protestation of love … —
Bettina Drew
Bettina Drew 
Did you know?
Paramour came to English from French (a language based on Latin), though the modern French don't use the word. Since par amour meant "through love", it implies a relationship based solely on love, often physical love, rather than on social custom or ceremony. So today it tends to refer to the lover of a married man or woman, but may be used for any lover who isn't obeying the social rules.
Examples of paramour in a Sentence
And faster than you can say "You've got mail!" he fell hard for his unseen paramour.
—Kipp Cheng, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Oct. 1998
His Vietnamese paramour was a young woman of remarkable beauty.
—Neil Sheehan, A Bright Shining Lie, 1988
As the vessel made sail immediately, and landed no part of their cargo, there seemed little doubt that they were accomplices of the notorious Robertson, and that the vessel had only come into the firth to carry off his paramour.
—Walter Scott, The Heart of Midlothian, 1818
Kipp Cheng, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Oct. 1998
His Vietnamese paramour was a young woman of remarkable beauty.
—Neil Sheehan, A Bright Shining Lie, 1988
As the vessel made sail immediately, and landed no part of their cargo, there seemed little doubt that they were accomplices of the notorious Robertson, and that the vessel had only come into the firth to carry off his paramour.
—Walter Scott, The Heart of Midlothian, 1818
Recent Examples on the Web
If her ostensible paramour was marked by sadness and an inability to relate, Molly connects more with places and things.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2024
Throughout season 33, there has appeared to be nothing but well wishes and support between the two former paramours.
—EW.com, 23 Oct. 2024
Onassis had presented Kennedy with diamond and ruby pendant earrings from Van Cleef & Arpels in 1968, which were the same earrings that Onassis’ longtime paramour Maria Callas had worn the month before, according to WWD at that time.
—Rosemary Feitelberg, WWD, 26 Sep. 2024
Potential paramours vie for your attention as the moon meets Venus.
Read the full Gemini Daily Horoscope
Cancer (June 22 - July 22)
Putting aside your differences?
—USA TODAY, 5 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for paramour 
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Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2024
Throughout season 33, there has appeared to be nothing but well wishes and support between the two former paramours.
—EW.com, 23 Oct. 2024
Onassis had presented Kennedy with diamond and ruby pendant earrings from Van Cleef & Arpels in 1968, which were the same earrings that Onassis’ longtime paramour Maria Callas had worn the month before, according to WWD at that time.
—Rosemary Feitelberg, WWD, 26 Sep. 2024
Potential paramours vie for your attention as the moon meets Venus.
Read the full Gemini Daily Horoscope
Cancer (June 22 - July 22)
Putting aside your differences?
—USA TODAY, 5 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for paramour
Articles Related to paramour
Dictionary Entries Near paramour
Cite this Entry
“Paramour.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paramour. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
paramour
noun
par·amour
ˈpar-ə-ˌmu̇r
: a partner in a sexual relationship other than that of husband and wife
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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