What does "platonic" mean?
A Platonist; a follower of Plato's ideas.
Platonic
/pləˈtɒnɪk/ adj, noun
adj, noun ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A Platonist; a follower of Plato's ideas.
- Grammar: platonic is listed as adj, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: abstinent, abstract, animist, animistic.
- Useful contrasts: romantic, sexual, amatory.
- Usage evidence: He's not my boyfriend, it's just platonic love with benefits!
How to use "platonic"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "platonic" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "platonic" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "platonic" as the right word for your sentence.
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Compare nearby meanings
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "platonic" is acting as adj, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "abstinent" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
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Final meaning check
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When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A Platonist; a follower of Plato's ideas.
- 2 A Platonic solid.
Adjective
- 1 Of or relating to the ancient Greek philosopher Plato or his philosophies. not-comparable, usually
- 2 Neither sexual nor romantic in nature; being or exhibiting platonic love.
"They are good friends, but their relationship is strictly platonic."
- 3 Alternative letter-case form of platonic (non-sexual). alt-of, not-comparable, usually
"The homosexual dismisses heterosexual love as a distasteful bondage to normalcy and bourgeois domestication, but the Platonic lover of the soul is dismissing all sexuality as bondage to the physical world."
- 4 Alternative letter-case form of Platonic (of or relating to the philosophical views of Plato and his successors). alt-of
"Plato gave so brilliant and impressive a defense of this common human feeling, that the doctrine of the reality of abstract objects has been known as the platonic theory of ideas ever since."
Adjective
- 1 free from physical desire wordnet
- 2 of or relating to or characteristic of Plato or his philosophy wordnet
Example
"He's not my boyfriend, it's just platonic love with benefits!"
Common questions
What is a synonym for "platonic"?
Common synonyms include: abstinent, abstract, animist, animistic, augustinian, averroist.
How do you use "platonic" in a sentence?
He's not my boyfriend, it's just platonic love with benefits!
How do you pronounce "platonic"?
Pronounced /pləˈtɒnɪk/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Latin Platōnicus. By surface analysis, Platon (“Plato”) + -ic (“relating to”).
Etymology 2
Variant of Platonic, which see. The sense “non-sexual” dates to the 17th century in English, and to the 15th century in Latin; see platonic love for details.