POSSLQ

English

Pronunciation

  • (General American) IPA(key): /ˈpɑsl̩ˌkju/
  • (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈpɒsl̩ˌkjuː/
  • Audio (US):(file)

Noun

POSSLQ (plural POSSLQs)

  1. (US Census) Abbreviation of person of the opposite sex sharing living quarters.
    • c. 1981, Charles Osgood
      You live with me, and I with you / And you will be my POSSLQ / I’ll be your friend and so much more / That’s what a POSSLQ is for.

Usage notes

The word POSSLQ entered American popular culture during the 1980s, but use outside the census context declined as unmarried cohabitation became more common and unremarkable and as the term "person of the opposite sex" excluded same-sex couples.

References

  • Lynne M. Casper, Philip N. Cohen, Tavia Simmons (1999) “How Does POSSLQ measure up? Historical Estimates of Cohabitation”, in U.S. Census Bureau‎[1]
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