Noun
term of endearment (plural terms of endearment)
A word, phrase, or nickname used as a term of address expressing affection.
My husband calls me a ginger every single day of my life, so that I'm completely used to it, and I've come to see it as a term of endearment. Jayma Mays
Until I was nine years old I thought 'cunt' was a term of endearment. Pete Doherty
My aunt used to call me light bulb head because my head is small at the bottom and bigger at the top. But it was a term of endearment. Tyra Banks
I knew 'Mars Needs Moms! ' would be a movie seconds after the title came to mind. Similarly, I also knew that my daughter would be calling me a dork as a default term of endearment eventually. Berkeley Breathed