An orientation generally describing little or no romantic attraction. Aromantic, often shortened to aro, can also serve as an umbrella for varied aro-spectrum experiences.
Sources and evidence type
Manual claim and limitation notes are shown where an individual source audit is complete. Other evidence-type labels are a publisher aid awaiting source-by-source confirmation.
Stonewall: LGBTQ+ termsCommunity context
Source design
Contextual or community source
What it can support
Terminology, reported practice or community context within the source’s own setting.
Important limitation
Community usage is not universal and does not establish safety, prevalence, clinical benefit or legal permission.
Illustration created using generative AI; not documentary evidence.
In brief
Little or no romantic attraction, with many forms of care and connection.
Aromanticism concerns romantic attraction, not an inability to love, care, commit or experience sexual attraction. Aro people may value friendship, family, community, queerplatonic partnership, sexual relationships, solo life or combinations. Romantic couplehood is not the universal measure of adulthood or fulfilment.
Aro-spectrum diversity
Some people experience no romantic attraction; greyromantic and demiromantic people describe rare, conditional or bond-dependent patterns. Labels are self-chosen rather than externally assigned.
An aro person may also identify as gay, bi, straight, pan, ace or another sexual orientation when describing sexual attraction.
Status
Detailed editorial draft
Publisher
The UK Kink Guide
Reviewed
Structured draft present; individual review date not recorded
Evidence
3 cited sources · types labelled below
Jurisdiction
UK-focused general education
Read the rest: evidence, law, safety and sources
Romantic attraction
A person's experience of wanting romantically framed connection with someone.
Sexual attraction
Sexual interest directed toward a person, which an aromantic person may or may not experience.
Queerplatonic
A committed relationship that is not adequately described by conventional friendship or romance categories.
Romance-averse
Discomfort with personally receiving or participating in romance; not identical to aromantic identity.
Relationships beyond a hierarchy
Friendship, chosen family and queerplatonic bonds can involve commitment, cohabitation, caregiving or shared finances. Their importance is not determined by whether they are romantic.
Some aro people enjoy romantic-coded activities or partnerships and others do not. Behaviour and presentation do not disprove orientation.
Amatonormativity
Amatonormativity is the assumption that everyone seeks an exclusive romantic partnership and that such a bond should outrank other relationships. It can make aro lives seem deficient when they are not.
Healthcare, housing and social systems can also privilege couples. Practical planning may be needed without treating romance as the solution.
Consent and communication
Relationship language should be explicit about expectations rather than assuming friendship will become romance. Nobody owes romantic gestures, exclusivity or a trial relationship.
Changing or uncertain labels are valid. Respectful support makes room for exploration without pressuring a person toward couplehood.
Non-graphic examples
What the umbrella may include
Being aromantic and bisexual.
Building a committed queerplatonic partnership.
Valuing chosen family above conventional dating.
Enjoying romantic fiction without wanting romance personally.
Declining a romantic relationship without being described as afraid of commitment.
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The UK Kink GuideEvidence-led glossary