Alterous attraction is a form of emotional attraction and desire for emotional closeness. It describes a feeling that is not necessarily platonic, but also is not romantic in nature. For some it may be in between romantic and platonic attraction, and for others it may be completely separate from the romantic/platonic distinction.

Alterous is an adjective used for an attraction which is neither exclusively platonic nor romantic, and for an orientation based in this attraction.

Indeed, someone who experiences alterous attraction may experience romantic and/or platonic attractions at different times, with different people, or in different combinations. Alterous attraction may be experienced separately and exclusively from sexual attraction, in addition to sexual attraction, or concurrently with sexual attraction. However, some people may experience attraction exclusively alterously.

Alterous as an orientation label may be used in combination with a prefix, such as bi-, homo-, or demi-. It may also be used as a complete orientation label without a prefix. Someone with an alterous orientation may use other orientation labels to describe other attractions, if they experience other attraction orientations and choose to identify with them.

An alterous crush is known as a mesh or a hush, although the terms are not widely used. Alterous attraction is most commonly associated with the color light blue. One who does not experience alterous attraction may identify as a-alterous, analterous, or nonalterous.

Alterous attraction's subset is Exteramo attraction.