# friend zone

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈfɹɛnd zəʊn/

## Definitions
1. The situation in which one is viewed by a potential partner as a platonic friend, which complicates the initiation of a romantic relationship.

## Etymology
Popularized in a 1994 episode of the American sitcom Friends.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/friend-zone