TEXTATIONSHIP

What Does "Textationship" Mean?

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Definition of "Textationship"

A "textationship" (sometimes "textlationship," rarely "textuationship") is a romantic or friendly relationship that exists primarily or solely through messaging, rather than through in-person interactions or phone calls.

A Digital Relationship...

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The term "textationship" blends text and relationship. It describes a relationship in which two people communicate through messaging apps, social media, or texting platforms. While it used to imply a temporary or shallow bond, it can also describe long-term or intense relationships that rely on digital communication.

...With a Sense of Intimacy

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A textationship may begin with online dating or through social media, and the individuals involved may or may not not have met in person. Textationships can be convenient and offer a sense of intimacy, but they can also have drawbacks, such as miscommunication or a lack of emotional depth due to the absence of in-person interactions.

Check out our comprehensive glossary of digital dating abbreviations, acronyms and slang terms.

So Close, Yet So Far Away

A "textationship" might also be referred to as a "textlationship," or "textuationship."

Summary of Key Points

Textationship
Definition:	A Relationship Based Only On Digital Contact
Type:	Acronym
Guessability:	2: Quite easy to guess
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

An Academic Look at Textationship

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As it is formed by merging two terms into one, "textationship" is a portmanteau word. It is a combination of the words text and relationship. Portmanteaus are efficient and catchy. Instead of saying "we're very close, but we only keep in touch through messaging," you just say "textationship." It's a type of linguistic efficiency that could have been made for internet culture (though it wasn't).