Micro-cheating - meaning and definition
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Definition
Small behaviours that one partner may see as a breach of trust, such as secret flirty messages or keeping an active dating profile, without anything physical happening.
At a glance
- Small behaviours a partner may see as a breach of trust.
- Examples include secret flirty messages or an active dating profile.
- No physical contact is involved.
- It is a popular, not clinical, term.
- It works best as a prompt to agree on boundaries.
In detail
Micro-cheating is a popular rather than clinical term. Examples people often mention include hiding a chat, liking an ex's photos in a flirtatious way, or presenting oneself as single.
Because what counts is highly personal, the term is most useful as a prompt for conversation. Couples who agree on their boundaries in advance are less likely to feel blindsided.
In a sentence
- Is keeping my old dating profile up micro-cheating if I never use it?
- We talked about micro-cheating and agreed that hidden chats are a no for both of us.
Where the word comes from
The term spread through media coverage of dating trends in the late 2010s.
Common questions
What counts as micro-cheating?
It depends on the couple. Behaviours often mentioned include hiding a chat, flirting with an ex online, or presenting yourself as single. The useful question is what you and your partner have agreed.