The platonic meaning in everyday English is a relationship that is warm, close and affectionate but not romantic or sexual. Two friends who would do anything for each other, yet have no wish to date, share a platonic bond.
The word is built on the name of Plato, the ancient Greek philosopher. With a capital P, Platonic still refers to his ideas. With a small p, it is the ordinary word people use to say "we are just friends" while showing that the friendship runs deep.
Entry at a glance
Meaning
Affectionate and close, but not romantic or sexualPart of speech
AdjectivePronunciation
pluh-TON-ikWord forms
Platonically (adverb); Platonism, Platonist (about the philosophy)Origin
From Plato, the Greek philosopher, through Latin PlatonicusOpposite
Romantic, sexual, amorousRegister
Neutral; used in casual talk and in formal writing
Platonic meaning, sense by sense
- Not romantic. Describes love, affection or a relationship without sexual or romantic desire: a platonic friendship, platonic love, platonic roommates.
- Relating to Plato (capital P). Describes the philosopher's teachings or later thinkers who followed them: Platonic dialogues, Platonic ideals.
- Purely in theory. A less common, older use for something that stays at the level of ideas and is never acted on: a platonic promise of support that never became real help.
In daily talk, the first sense dominates.
How a philosopher's name became a word for friendship
Plato wrote about love in his dialogues, especially in a work where speakers praise love as a ladder. On that ladder, a person rises from attraction to one body toward love of beauty, wisdom and goodness in general.
In the fifteenth century, the Italian scholar Marsilio Ficino, who translated Plato into Latin, used the phrase amor platonicus, Platonic love, for a spiritual love between people. Over time, English speakers narrowed it to a love that leaves out physical desire, and the small letter platonic followed. Today most people who use it have never read Plato, and that is fine.
Platonic definition in example sentences
- Ravi and Meera have been platonic best friends since primary school.
- Our relationship is strictly platonic, so please stop asking when we will get married.
- He sent her flowers on her birthday as a platonic gesture of thanks.
- The class compared Platonic ideas of beauty with modern views.
- They split rent as platonic roommates and cook dinner together on Sundays.
Platonic versus romantic and other terms
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Platonic | Close and caring without romance or sex |
| Romantic | Involving love with attraction, dating or partnership |
| Intimate | Very close and personal; can be emotional or physical |
| Friends with benefits | A friendship that includes a sexual side without commitment |
| Queerplatonic | A newer term for a committed bond beyond usual friendship that is not romantic |
Note that intimate is not the opposite of platonic. A platonic friendship can be emotionally intimate. What it lacks is romantic or sexual desire.
How to use the word
- Put it before a noun: platonic love, platonic bond, platonic friend, platonic hug.
- Place it after be, stay or remain: their friendship is platonic; it stayed platonic.
- Add purely or strictly to stress the point.
- The adverb is platonically: they love each other platonically.
- Keep the capital P only when you mean Plato's philosophy, as in Platonic forms or Platonic solids in geometry.
Common confusions
Some people assume platonic means cold or distant. It does not. A platonic relationship can be just as loving as a romantic one; it is simply a different kind of love. Others think it must describe two people of different genders, but the word works for any friends.
It also does not mean one-sided. If one person has a crush and the other does not, the relationship is platonic for one and not for the other, which is a common theme in stories about friendship. For related feelings, see love, limerence and affinity, or explore other people and feelings words.
Frequently asked questions
What does platonic mean in a relationship?
The two people care about each other but are not dating and have no sexual or romantic interest. Think of a best friend or a close sibling-like bond.
Can you define platonic love?
Platonic love is deep affection and loyalty between people without romantic or physical desire. It is the love of close friends, often lifelong.
Is platonic a positive or negative word?
Mostly neutral to positive, since it describes a valued, caring bond. It only feels negative when someone hoped for romance and hears that the feeling is platonic.
How do you pronounce platonic?
pluh-TON-ik is the usual way; TON carries the beat and rhymes with gone.
Should platonic have a capital letter?
Use a small p for non-romantic relationships. Use a capital P when you mean the philosophy of Plato, such as Platonic dialogues or Platonic ideals.
What is the definition of platonic friendship?
A platonic friendship is a close friendship with no romantic or sexual side. The friends may spend lots of time together, share secrets and support each other, but they do not see each other as partners.