plural rom-coms
: romantic comedy
That's where the rom-com comes in, that wayward genre of sweet serendipity and forgivably thin plots set to rising music …Vogue
One of the film's pleasures is its movie within a movie, the rom-com "I Love You, I Love New York."Tad Friend
often used before another noun
a silly rom-com plot
Does anybody cry funnier than Segel does in Forgetting Sarah Marshall, the wonderful rom-com farce he not only starred in but wrote?Jim Windolf

Examples of rom-com in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Wrigley Field is a perfect setting for a rom-com, since many young fans are looking for romance and not paying a whole lot of attention to the actual game. Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026 The Rosalind Eleazar-starring Misty Green trades that rom-com’s laughs for an intense character study about an actress struggling to mount a comeback, showcasing Rock’s prowess in multiple genres. Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026 There’s rom-com-style banter between Alice and her colleague Danny (Scoot McNairy), and cynical mentorship from FBI agent Nora (Quincy Tyler Bernstine), who has seen enough to drive her to drink. Joy Press, Vanity Fair, 31 Aug. 2026 To that end, here are the best rom-coms based on Shakespeare plays to watch—or rewatch—now. Jessica Barrett, Vogue, 30 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rom-com

Word History

First Known Use

1958, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of rom-com was in 1958

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Cite this Entry

“Rom-com.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rom-com. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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