Love vs. Affection — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on September 20, 2023
Love is a deep emotional attachment that can be romantic, platonic, or familial, often requiring commitment and sacrifice. Affection is a milder form of fondness or liking, generally expressed through physical touch or kind gestures.
Difference Between Love and Affection
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Love is a complex emotion that encompasses a range of feelings, including deep attachment, passion, and commitment. It's often considered to be a more intense emotion than affection. Affection, on the other hand, is a warm sentiment that can manifest as a subset of love or independently, often exhibited through kind gestures or physical touch.
Love often requires a deeper level of commitment and can last over long periods, even a lifetime. It can manifest in various forms, such as romantic love, platonic love, or familial love. Affection is typically less enduring and can come and go more easily. While you may have affection for many people, you may only say you love a select few.
Love often implies a willingness to make sacrifices for the other person, whether that means compromising or even suffering for their happiness. Affection doesn't usually demand the same level of sacrifice. It's more about comfort, warmth, and casual care than deep emotional bonds.
Love can be an overarching umbrella that encompasses various other feelings, including affection. Affection, however, doesn't always imply love. You can show affection to a stranger by holding the door for them, but that doesn't mean you love them. The lines between love and affection can be blurry, but generally, love is deeper and more involved, while affection is simpler and more straightforward.
Comparison Chart
Emotional Intensity
Usually more intense
Usually less intense
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Duration
Can be long-lasting
May be temporary
Forms
Romantic, platonic, familial
General fondness, physical touch
Level of Commitment
Often involves commitment
Generally requires less commitment
Expression
May include sacrifices
Usually expressed through gestures
Compare with Definitions
Love
A deep emotional attachment to someone.
His love for his family was unconditional.
Affection
A general fondness or liking for someone.
He had a strong affection for his mentor.
Love
A lifelong bond between family members.
The love of a mother is irreplaceable.
Affection
A mild emotional attachment.
She felt an immediate affection for the puppy.
Love
A willingness to sacrifice for someone else's well-being.
Her love was evident in the sacrifices she made for her children.
Affection
An expression of warmth or kindness.
He showed affection by cooking her favorite meal.
Love
Love encompasses a range of strong and positive emotional and mental states, from the most sublime virtue or good habit, the deepest interpersonal affection, to the simplest pleasure. An example of this range of meanings is that the love of a mother differs from the love of a spouse, which differs from the love of food.
Affection
Affection or fondness is a "disposition or state of mind or body" that is often associated with a feeling or type of love. It has given rise to a number of branches of philosophy and psychology concerning emotion, disease, influence, and state of being.
Love
A strong feeling of affection and concern toward another person, as that arising from kinship or close friendship.
Affection
A gentle feeling of fondness or liking
He won a place in her affections
She felt affection for the wise old lady
Love
A strong feeling of affection and concern for another person accompanied by sexual attraction.
Affection
The action or process of affecting or being affected.
Love
A feeling of devotion or adoration toward God or a god.
Affection
A tender feeling toward another; fondness.
Love
A feeling of kindness or concern by God or a god toward humans.
Affection
Often affections Feeling or emotion
An unbalanced state of affections.
Love
Often Love(Christianity) Charity.
Affection
A disposition to feel, do, or say; a propensity.
Love
Sexual desire or activity
The pleasures of love.
A night of love.
Affection
(Obsolete) Prejudice; partiality.
Love
An instance of being in love
Teenage loves can be as fleeting as they are intense.
Affection
The act of affecting or acting upon.
Love
A person for whom one has strong feelings of affection
She met her new love at the restaurant.
Affection
The state of being affected, especially: a change in, or alteration of, the emotional state of a person or other animal, caused by a subjective affect (a subjective feeling or emotion), which arises in response to a stimulus which may result from either thought or perception.
Love
Used as a term of endearment for such a person.
Affection
An attribute; a quality or property; a condition.
Love
An intense emotional attachment to something, as to a pet or treasured object.
Affection
An emotion; a feeling or natural impulse acting upon and swaying the mind.
Love
An expression of one's affection
Send him my love.
Affection
A feeling of love or strong attachment.
I have a lot of affection for my little sister.
The marriage therapist suggested they show each other more affection.
Love
A strong predilection or enthusiasm
A love of language.
Love for the game of golf.
Affection
A disease; a morbid symptom; a malady.
Love
The object of such an enthusiasm
The outdoors is her greatest love.
Affection
To feel affection for.
Love
Love(Mythology) Eros or Cupid.
Affection
The act of affecting or acting upon; the state of being affected.
Love
(Sports) A score of zero, as in tennis.
Affection
An attribute; a quality or property; a condition; a bodily state; as, figure, weight, etc. , are affections of bodies.
And, truly, waking dreams were, more or less,An old and strange affection of the house.
Love
To feel love for (a person)
We love our parents. I love my friends.
Affection
Bent of mind; a feeling or natural impulse or natural impulse acting upon and swaying the mind; any emotion; as, the benevolent affections, esteem, gratitude, etc.; the malevolent affections, hatred, envy, etc.; inclination; disposition; propensity; tendency.
Affection is applicable to an unpleasant as well as a pleasant state of the mind, when impressed by any object or quality.
Love
To feel sexual love for (a person).
Affection
A settled good will; kind feeling; love; zealous or tender attachment; - often in the pl. Formerly followed by to, but now more generally by for or towards; as, filial, social, or conjugal affections; to have an affection for or towards children.
All his affections are set on his own country.
Love
To feel devotion to (God or a god).
Affection
Prejudice; bias.
Love
To feel or show kindness or concern to (a person). Used of God or a god.
Affection
Disease; morbid symptom; malady; as, a pulmonary affection.
Love
To have an intense emotional attachment to
Loves his house.
Affection
The lively representation of any emotion.
Love
To embrace or caress
They were loving each other on the sofa.
Affection
Affectation.
Love
To have sexual intercourse with.
Affection
Passion; violent emotion.
Most wretched man,That to affections does the bridle lend.
Love
To like or desire enthusiastically
Loves swimming.
Affection
A positive feeling of liking;
He had trouble expressing the affection he felt
The child won everyone's heart
Love
To thrive on; need
The cactus loves hot, dry air.
Affection
A display of care through physical touch.
Her hug was a simple but powerful sign of affection.
Love
To feel love or sexual love for another.
Affection
A temporary feeling of closeness.
Their affection for each other faded over time.
Love
(uncountable) A deep caring for the existence of another.
Love
(uncountable) Strong affection.
Love
A profound and caring affection towards someone.
A mother’s love is not easily shaken.
My husband’s love is the most important thing in my life.
Love
Affectionate, benevolent concern or care for other people or beings, and for their well-being.
Love
A feeling of intense attraction towards someone.
I have never been in love as much as I have with you.
Love
A deep or abiding liking for something; an enthusiasm for something.
My love of cricket knows no bounds.
Love
(countable) A person who is the object of romantic feelings; a darling, a sweetheart, a beloved.
Love
A term of friendly address, regardless of feelings.
Hello love, how can I help you?
Love
A thing, activity, etc. which is the object of one's deep liking or enthusiasm.
Love
(euphemistic) Sexual desire; attachment based on sexual attraction.
Love
(euphemistic) Sexual activity.
Love
An instance or episode of being in love; a love affair.
Love
Used as the closing, before the signature, of a letter, especially between good friends or family members, or by the young.
Love
(obsolete) A thin silk material.
Love
A climbing plant, Clematis vitalba.
Love
Zero, no score.
So that’s fifteen-love to Kournikova.
Love
Nothing; no recompense.
Love
To have a strong affection for (someone or something).
I love my spouse.
I love you!
I love that song!
Love
(transitive) To need, thrive on.
Mold loves moist, dark places.
Love
(transitive) To be strongly inclined towards something; an emphatic form of like.
I love walking barefoot on wet grass;
I'd love to join the team;
I love what you've done with your hair
Love
To care deeply about, to be dedicated to (someone or something).
Love
(transitive) To derive delight from a fact or situation.
I love the fact that the coffee shop now offers fat-free chai latte.
Love
To have sex with (perhaps from make love).
I wish I could love her all night long.
Love
A feeling of strong attachment induced by that which delights or commands admiration; preëminent kindness or devotion to another; affection; tenderness; as, the love of brothers and sisters.
Of all the dearest bonds we proveThou countest sons' and mothers' loveMost sacred, most Thine own.
Love
Especially, devoted attachment to, or tender or passionate affection for, one of the opposite sex.
He on his sideLeaning half-raised, with looks of cordial loveHung over her enamored.
Love
Courtship; - chiefly in the phrase to make love, i. e., to court, to woo, to solicit union in marriage.
Demetrius . . . Made love to Nedar's daughter, Helena,And won her soul.
Love
Affection; kind feeling; friendship; strong liking or desire; fondness; good will; - opposed to hate; often with of and an object.
Love, and health to all.
Smit with the love of sacred song.
The love of science faintly warmed his breast.
Love
Due gratitude and reverence to God.
Keep yourselves in the love of God.
Love
The object of affection; - often employed in endearing address; as, he held his love in his arms; his greatest love was reading.
Open the temple gates unto my love.
Love
Cupid, the god of love; sometimes, Venus.
Such was his form as painters, when they showTheir utmost art, on naked Lores bestow.
Therefore do nimble-pinioned doves draw Love.
Love
A thin silk stuff.
Love
A climbing species of Clematis (Clematis Vitalba).
Love
Nothing; no points scored on one side; - used in counting score at tennis, etc.
He won the match by three sets to love.
Love
Sexual intercourse; - a euphemism.
A little western flower,Before milk-white, now purple with love's wound;And maidens call it love-in-idleness.
Love
To have a feeling of love for; to regard with affection or good will; as, to love one's children and friends; to love one's country; to love one's God.
Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thy self.
Love
To regard with passionate and devoted affection, as that of one sex for the other.
Love
To take delight or pleasure in; to have a strong liking or desire for, or interest in; to be pleased with; to like; as, to love books; to love adventures.
Wit, eloquence, and poetry.Arts which I loved.
Love
To have the feeling of love; to be in love.
Love
A strong positive emotion of regard and affection;
His love for his work
Children need a lot of love
Love
Any object of warm affection or devotion;
The theater was her first love
He has a passion for cock fighting
Love
A beloved person; used as terms of endearment
Love
A deep feeling of sexual desire and attraction;
Their love left them indifferent to their surroundings
She was his first love
Love
A score of zero in tennis or squash;
It was 40 love
Love
Sexual activities (often including sexual intercourse) between two people;
His lovemaking disgusted her
He hadn't had any love in months
He has a very complicated love life
Love
Have a great affection or liking for;
I love French food
She loves her boss and works hard for him
Love
Get pleasure from;
I love cooking
Love
Be enamored or in love with;
She loves her husband deeply
Love
Have sexual intercourse with;
This student sleeps with everyone in her dorm
Adam knew Eve
Were you ever intimate with this man?
Love
A strong feeling of romantic desire.
The love between them was palpable.
Love
A platonic but deep relationship between friends.
Their friendship grew into a love that lasted for decades.
Common Curiosities
What is Affection?
Affection is a milder form of fondness or liking, often shown through physical touch or kind gestures.
Is Love the same as Affection?
No, love is generally more intense and can encompass affection, but affection doesn't necessarily imply love.
What is Love?
Love is a deep emotional attachment that can be romantic, platonic, or familial.
Can Affection exist without Love?
Yes, you can have affection for someone without loving them.
How is Affection generally expressed?
Affection is commonly shown through physical touch, like hugs, and kind gestures.
How long does Affection usually last?
Affection can be more temporary and situational.
Is Love conditional?
Love can be both conditional and unconditional, depending on the relationship.
Is Affection conditional?
Affection is usually conditional and may depend on specific circumstances.
Can Love exist without Affection?
While uncommon, it is possible for love to exist without overt displays of affection.
Is Affection always romantic?
No, affection can be shown in non-romantic relationships as well.
How is Love generally expressed?
Love is often expressed through commitment, sacrifice, and deep emotional connection.
Is Love always romantic?
No, love can also be platonic or familial.
How long does Love usually last?
Love can be enduring and may last a lifetime in some cases.
Can Affection change over time?
Yes, affection can fluctuate based on the situation and relationship.
Can Love change over time?
Yes, the nature and intensity of love can change over time.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
