labels
/ˈleɪ.bəlz/
Very CommonOfficial relationship titles like boyfriend, girlfriend, or partner that define what two people are.
Labels carry social weight. Having them usually signals exclusivity and intentionality. Rejecting them is often a way of keeping options open without saying so directly.
Real-world examples4 examples
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | he said he doesn't do labels but then got mad when i talked to someone else | He refused to commit but acted possessively anyway. | x, 2024 |
| 02 | we finally put a label on it. she's my girlfriend now | After an undefined period, the relationship became official. | instagram, 2024 |
| 03 | why is wanting labels suddenly a personality flaw | Frustrated that wanting a committed relationship is being treated as clingy or intense. | tiktok, 2023 |
| 04 | 3 months in and we still don't have labels. at what point do i bring it up | Looking for advice on when to have the commitment conversation. | reddit, 2024 |
Use it when
- Discussing whether a relationship has been made official.
- Someone avoided defining things by saying they 'don't do labels.'
- One person wants more commitment than the other is offering.
- Describing the shift from casual to committed.
Do not use it when
- You're talking about literal name tags or product labeling.
Labels vs no labels
labels
Labels refers to having an official relationship title and defined commitment.
VS
no-labels
No labels is deliberately avoiding those titles to keep things undefined.
Origin and context
General English word that took on a specific meaning in dating discourse as informal relationships became more common. The phrase 'I don't do labels' gained widespread use online through the 2010s.
- First seen
- 2010s
- Confidence
- low
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/labelsUpdated: 2026-08-29License: CC BY 4.0