Situationship

A situationship is a romantic or sexual relationship that hasn't been defined. Dictionary.com describes it as one "that its participants have not defined," often without commitment or exclusivity. The word blends "situation" and "relationship."

The longer explanation

Situationships aren't automatically bad. Some people choose low-commitment arrangements on purpose. The trouble starts when the two people want different things and one of them avoids the conversation that would make that clear. In attachment-theory content, situationships are often blamed on avoidance, because keeping things undefined is a way to keep distance.

Example

You've been seeing each other every weekend for five months, you've met their friends, and when you ask "what are we?" they say "why do we need a label?"

What it is not

A clearly agreed casual arrangement isn't a situationship in the painful sense. Both people know the deal.

Online use vs research use

Slang, not a research term. Dictionary.com dates it to around 2005-10. It became widespread through social media in the 2020s.

Not available for situations. Only relationships.