commitment-phobicadj.n.
/kəˌmɪtm(ə)ntˈfəʊbɪk/, U.S. /kəˌmɪtm(ə)ntˈfoʊbɪk/ A. adj.
Characterized by or exhibiting resistance or aversion to the commitment involved in a long-term romantic relationship. Now also (more generally): exhibiting resistance or aversion to making a commitment to any decision, course of action, etc. Cf. commitment phobia n.
ΚΠ
1981 N.Y. Times Bk. Rev. 3 May 20/3 How is the prevalence of ‘commitmentphobic’ men and ‘counterdependent’ women related to the stark fact that there aren't enough men to go around for the women of the baby-boom generation?
1994 W. Farrell Myth Male Power (rev. ed.) i. 13 When he is called commitment-phobic he doesn't feel understood.
2004 NFT Programme Booklet June 28/2 A contemporary comedy whose tone broke no boundaries, but whose subject—mixed-race relationships, commitment-phobic girlfriends, and lesbian pregnancy—certainly did.
2014 Sunday Times (S. Afr.) (Nexis) 5 Oct. Despite this lack of knowledge, institutional shareholders, who are generally commitment-phobic and mobile, support all resolutions.
B. n.
A person who is resistant or averse to commitment, esp. in a romantic relationship; = commitment-phobe n.
ΚΠ
1987 S. Carter & J. Sokol Men who can't Love iv. 66 The commitmentphobic's specialty is seduction and rejection.
2001 K. E. Payne Different but Equal i. ii. 37 He again became the target of women, who complained that men were commitment phobics, refusing to grow up and postponing marriage or avoiding it altogether.
2013 Daily Record (Glasgow) (Nexis) 28 May 10 A story about a commitment-phobic who decides to track down all her ex-boyfriends and give them another try.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2015; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
adj.n.1981