Single (relationship)

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In relationships, a single person is one who is not married, or, more broadly, who is not in an exclusive romantic relationship. A single man is often referred to as a bachelor and a single woman as a bachelorette (this term is used in the United States, but is unheard of in Britain where they are referred to simply as single women)^{[citation needed]}. Elderly single women are sometimes referred to as spinsters, but the term is considered pejorative and sexist.^{[citation needed]} Catherinette was a traditional French label for girls of twenty-five years old who were still unmarried by the Feast of Saint Catherine.

People who are single typically^{[citation needed]} engage in dating to find a partner or spouse. Not all single people actively seek out a relationship, however, as some are content to wait for the 'right' person to enter their lives, while others do not seek relations at all.

According to the United States Bureau of the Census, the fastest-growing household type since the 1980s has been the single person.

Loneliness, however, can occur for many single people who look for but cannot find anyone they might wish to date, especially for those suffering the loss of companionship following divorce or bereavement. Critics of this viewpoint point out that while single people may feel lonely, cohabiting and married people also experience loneliness. Some single people, however, regard and appreciate solitude as an opportunity.