romantica

R1O1M3A1N1T1I1C3A1
US/ɹoʊˈmæntɪkə/

noun

Erotic romance.

Meanings

nounromantica (uncountable)
  1. uncountableErotic romance.

    If one believes the marketing strategies of erotic romance publishers, romantica re-envisions an autonomous female sexuality.

    2012, Carole Veldman-Genz, “The More the Merrier? Transformations of the Love Triangle Across the Romance”, in Sarah S.G. Frantz, Eric Murphy Selinger, editors, New Approaches to Popular Romance Fiction: Critical Essays, McFarland & Company, →ISBN, page 116
    2 more examples

    Actively seeking romance (including category), romantica, women’s fiction, mystery, thrillers and young adult. Does not want to receive poetry, short stories or screenplays.

    2007, Chuck Sambuchino, editor, 2008 Guide to Literary Agents, Cincinnati, Ohio: Writer’s Digest Books, →ISBN, page 102

    This is Madison Lake’s third steamy romantica novel in a rapidly growing collection. She stumbled upon writing romantica quite by accident when, after reading some of her work, several colleagues suggested she explore the genre. Since then, writing romantica has become a passion (no pun intended).

    2012, “About the Author”, in Madison Lake, A Cloud of Hawthorne: A Real Old Fashion Romance, with Titillating Tid-Bits, FriesenPress, →ISBN, page 98

Origin

  1. Englishromance
  2. Proto-Indo-European*h₁rem-
  3. Proto-Indo-European*h₁rém-e-tider.?
  4. Ancient Greekἐράω (eráō)
  5. Ancient Greekἔρως (érōs)
  6. Ancient Greekἐρωτῐκός (erōtĭkós)
  7. Latinerōtica
  8. Englisherotica
  9. Englishromantica

Blend of romance + erotica.

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

Cite this entry
APA

romantica. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/romantica

MLA

“romantica.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/romantica. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “romantica,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/romantica.

Source: romantica on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.