noun · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
Received-Pronunciation:/ˈkɔːt.ʃɪp/
General-American:/ˈkɔɹt.ʃɪp/
Received-Pronunciation:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:K AO1 R CH IH2 P
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
The act of paying court, that is, demonstrating such politeness and respect as is traditionally given at a court (“a formal assembly of a sovereign's retinue”).
The ceremonial performance of acts of courtesy to a dignitary, etc.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, obsolete, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
The act of paying court, that is, demonstrating such politeness and respect as is traditionally given at a court (“a formal assembly of a sovereign's retinue”).
The act of wooing a person to enter into a romantic relationship or marriage; hence, the period during which a couple fall in love before their marriage.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
The act of paying court, that is, demonstrating such politeness and respect as is traditionally given at a court (“a formal assembly of a sovereign's retinue”).
The behaviour exhibited by an animal to attract a mate.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: broadly, countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
The act of paying court, that is, demonstrating such politeness and respect as is traditionally given at a court (“a formal assembly of a sovereign's retinue”).
The act of trying to solicit a favour or support from someone.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, figuratively, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
Elegance or propriety of manners fitting for a court; courtliness; (by extension) courteous or polite behaviour; courtesy.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, obsolete, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
noun
Meaning 6
The pursuit of being a courtier, such as exercising diplomacy, finesse, etc.; also, the artifices and intrigues of a court; courtcraft.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
noun
Meaning 7
a man's courting of a woman; seeking the affections of a woman (usually with the hope of marriage)
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
its was a brief and intense courtship
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: wooing, courting, suit
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: entreaty, prayer, appeal
Narrower terms: bundling
History
Etymology
From court (“demonstration of such respect as is traditionally given at court; attention directed to a person in power; behaviour designed to gain favour; politeness of manner; civility towards someone”) + -ship (suffix forming nouns indicating a property or state of being).
Across languages
Translations
64 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Serbo-Croatian:
удво́рно̄ст
— act of paying court, that is, demonstrating such respect as is traditionally given at a court
Serbo-Croatian:
udvórnōst
— act of paying court, that is, demonstrating such respect as is traditionally given at a court
Belarusian:
заляца́нне
(zaljacánnje)
— act of wooing a person to enter into a romantic relationship or marriage
Belarusian:
жаніха́нне
(žanixánnje)
— act of wooing a person to enter into a romantic relationship or marriage
Bulgarian:
уха́жване
(uhážvane)
— act of wooing a person to enter into a romantic relationship or marriage
Chinese Mandarin:
求愛 /求爱
(qiú'ài)
— act of wooing a person to enter into a romantic relationship or marriage
Czech:
dvoření
— act of wooing a person to enter into a romantic relationship or marriage
Czech:
namlouvání
— act of wooing a person to enter into a romantic relationship or marriage
Czech:
námluvy
— act of wooing a person to enter into a romantic relationship or marriage
Erzya:
той
(toj)
— act of wooing a person to enter into a romantic relationship or marriage
Esperanto:
amindumado
— act of wooing a person to enter into a romantic relationship or marriage
Esperanto:
amindumo
— act of wooing a person to enter into a romantic relationship or marriage
Finnish:
kosiskelu
— act of wooing a person to enter into a romantic relationship or marriage
Finnish:
riiuu
— act of wooing a person to enter into a romantic relationship or marriage
French:
cour
— act of wooing a person to enter into a romantic relationship or marriage
German:
Brautwerbung
— act of wooing a person to enter into a romantic relationship or marriage
German:
Freien
— act of wooing a person to enter into a romantic relationship or marriage
German:
Liebeswerben
— act of wooing a person to enter into a romantic relationship or marriage
Ancient Greek:
μνηστεία
(mnēsteía)
— act of wooing a person to enter into a romantic relationship or marriage
Hungarian:
udvarlás
— act of wooing a person to enter into a romantic relationship or marriage
Irish:
cúirtéireacht
— act of wooing a person to enter into a romantic relationship or marriage
Irish:
suirí
— act of wooing a person to enter into a romantic relationship or marriage
Italian:
corteggiamento
— act of wooing a person to enter into a romantic relationship or marriage
Italian:
corteggio
— act of wooing a person to enter into a romantic relationship or marriage
Japanese:
求愛
(kyūai)
— act of wooing a person to enter into a romantic relationship or marriage
Kazakh:
құдалық
(qūdalyq)
— act of wooing a person to enter into a romantic relationship or marriage
Korean:
구애
(guae)
— act of wooing a person to enter into a romantic relationship or marriage
Macedonian:
додвору́вање
(dodvorúvanje)
— act of wooing a person to enter into a romantic relationship or marriage
Māori:
mātorohanga
— act of wooing a person to enter into a romantic relationship or marriage
Polish:
konkury
— act of wooing a person to enter into a romantic relationship or marriage
Polish:
zaloty
— act of wooing a person to enter into a romantic relationship or marriage
Portuguese:
corte
— act of wooing a person to enter into a romantic relationship or marriage
Portuguese:
cortejo
— act of wooing a person to enter into a romantic relationship or marriage
Romanian:
curte
— act of wooing a person to enter into a romantic relationship or marriage
Russian:
уха́живание
(uxáživanije)
— act of wooing a person to enter into a romantic relationship or marriage
Scottish Gaelic:
leannanachd
— act of wooing a person to enter into a romantic relationship or marriage
Serbo-Croatian:
удва́ра̄ње
— act of wooing a person to enter into a romantic relationship or marriage
Serbo-Croatian:
udvárānje
— act of wooing a person to enter into a romantic relationship or marriage
Sicilian:
scummàttiri
— act of wooing a person to enter into a romantic relationship or marriage
Sicilian:
nzurtari
— act of wooing a person to enter into a romantic relationship or marriage
Slovak:
dvorenie
— act of wooing a person to enter into a romantic relationship or marriage
Slovene:
dvorjenje
— act of wooing a person to enter into a romantic relationship or marriage
Spanish:
cortejo
— act of wooing a person to enter into a romantic relationship or marriage
Swedish:
uppvaktning
— act of wooing a person to enter into a romantic relationship or marriage
Tagalog:
panliligaw
— act of wooing a person to enter into a romantic relationship or marriage
Ukrainian:
залиця́ння
(zalycjánnja)
— act of wooing a person to enter into a romantic relationship or marriage
Ukrainian:
жениха́ння
(ženyxánnja)
— act of wooing a person to enter into a romantic relationship or marriage
Ukrainian:
зальо́ти
(zalʹóty)
— act of wooing a person to enter into a romantic relationship or marriage
Vietnamese:
sự tán tỉnh
— act of wooing a person to enter into a romantic relationship or marriage
Vietnamese:
sự ve vãn
— act of wooing a person to enter into a romantic relationship or marriage
Māori:
whakai
— period during which a couple fall in love before their marriage
Māori:
whakaipotanga
— period during which a couple fall in love before their marriage
Serbo-Croatian:
удва́ра̄ње
— period during which a couple fall in love before their marriage
Serbo-Croatian:
хофирање
— period during which a couple fall in love before their marriage
Serbo-Croatian:
udvárānje
— period during which a couple fall in love before their marriage
Serbo-Croatian:
hofiranje
— period during which a couple fall in love before their marriage
Vietnamese:
thời gian tìm hiểu
— period during which a couple fall in love before their marriage
Chinese Mandarin:
求偶行為 /求偶行为
(qiú'ǒu xíngwéi)
— behaviour exhibited by a male animal to attract a mate
Portuguese:
corte
— behaviour exhibited by a male animal to attract a mate
Serbo-Croatian:
удва́ра̄ње
— behaviour exhibited by a male animal to attract a mate
Serbo-Croatian:
udvárānje
— behaviour exhibited by a male animal to attract a mate
Vietnamese:
hành vi ve vãn
— behaviour exhibited by a male animal to attract a mate
Vietnamese:
hành vi tán tỉnh
— behaviour exhibited by a male animal to attract a mate
Vietnamese:
sự nịnh nọt
— act of trying to solicit a favour or support from someone
