An affair and a mistress are related terms often used in the context of romantic or sexual relationships outside of a person's committed partnership. However, they refer to different aspects of such relationships:
- Affair: An affair is a general term used to describe a romantic or sexual involvement between a person who is already in a committed relationship (such as marriage or a long-term partnership) and someone who is not their partner. Affairs can occur for various reasons, including emotional dissatisfaction, a desire for novelty, lack of intimacy, or simply a momentary lapse in judgment.
In an affair, one or both parties involved may already be married or in a long-term relationship. The affair is characterized by secrecy and deception, as it typically involves hiding the relationship from the partners of those involved. Affairs can be emotionally charged and complicated, often leading to feelings of guilt, betrayal, and pain for all parties involved.
- Mistress: A mistress refers specifically to the woman who is in a romantic or sexual relationship with a man who is already married or in a committed partnership. The term "mistress" has historically carried connotations of a woman who is involved in a secretive relationship with a married man, typically with the understanding that the man is financially supporting her in some way.
While the term "mistress" is used to describe the female partner in such a situation, it's essential to recognize that extramarital affairs can involve individuals of any gender and sexual orientation. The term "lover" is a gender-neutral alternative that can be used to describe someone involved in an affair.
In summary, an affair refers to the extramarital or extrapartnership romantic or sexual relationship, while a mistress specifically denotes the woman involved in a secretive relationship with a married man or a man in a committed partnership. Both concepts are often associated with secrecy, deception, and emotional complexities due to the nature of these relationships being outside the bounds of the primary partnership.