DictionaryitemRomantic couple
noun

item

Two people in a romantic relationship.

Everyone at work knows that Maya and Ben are an item.

Etymology

Latin item meant also and introduced additional entries in lists, giving English the sense of an individual unit. Calling a couple an item treats the two people as one recognized romantic unit.

More examples

  • Are you and Chris an item now?
  • They became an item after meeting at a friend's wedding.
  • We spend time together, but we're not an item.

Forms

item · items

Similar words

couple
More neutral than item and suitable for formal contexts.
pair
Can mean any two people, not necessarily romantic partners.