romantic Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a soulful or amorous idealist
  2. noun an artist of the Romantic Movement or someone influenced by Romanticism
    romanticist.
  3. adjective belonging to or characteristic of Romanticism or the Romantic Movement in the arts
    romanticistic; romanticist.
    • romantic poetry
  4. adjective satellite expressive of or exciting sexual love or romance
    amatory; amorous.
    • her amatory affairs
    • amorous glances
    • a romantic adventure
    • a romantic moonlight ride
  5. adjective satellite not sensible about practical matters; idealistic and unrealistic
    quixotic; wild-eyed.
    • as quixotic as a restoration of medieval knighthood
    • a romantic disregard for money
    • a wild-eyed dream of a world state

WordNet

Ro*man"tic adjective
Etymology
F. romantique, fr. OF. romant. See Romance.
Definitions
  1. Of or pertaining to romance; involving or resembling romance; hence, fanciful; marvelous; extravagant; unreal; as, a romantic tale; a romantic notion; a romantic undertaking.
    Can anything in nature be imagined more profane and impious, more absurd, and undeed romantic, than such a persuasion? South.
    Zeal for the good of one's country a party of men have represented as chimerical and romantic. Addison.
  2. Entertaining ideas and expectations suited to a romance; as, a romantic person; a romantic mind.
  3. Of or pertaining to the style of the Christian and popular literature of the Middle Ages, as opposed to the classical antique; of the nature of, or appropriate to, that style; as, the romantic school of poets.
  4. Characterized by strangeness or variety; suggestive of adventure; suited to romance; wild; picturesque; -- applied to scenery; as, a romantic landscape. Syn. -- Sentimental; fanciful; fantastic; fictitious; extravagant; wild; chimerical. See Sentimental.

Webster 1913