Affair

An affair is a relationship typically between two people, one or both of whom are either married or in a long-term monogamous or emotionally-exclusive relationship with someone else. The affair can be solely sexual, solely physical or solely emotional – or a combination of these. People who involve themselves in affairs typically do so out of the need for just sex, an intimate relationship, passionate attachment or a combination of these factors.

Romantic relationships are considered to be contracts. They may be a formal one like marriage – consisting of both a verbal and written contract, or an informal one – consisting of only a verbal contract. Because most affairs are clandestine in nature, an affair breaks those (often implicit) contracts. Clandestine affairs commonly cause feelings of betrayal to the other person in the primary relationship. Ironically, affairs themselves are also contracted relationships and come with numerous stipulations and rules.

An affair is different from a "fling" in that it is usually long-term. The word for the most-likely unmarried partner in an affair is the gender-neutral French "paramour". Affairs are often emotionally lopsided in that paramour will be the only one to heavily invest themselves into the affair.