In fandom slang, what does OTP stand for?

In fandom slang, OTP stands for “one true pairing.” It describes the fictional or real-world pairing a fan prefers above all others within a fandom.

The term belongs to the broader vocabulary of “shipping,” the practice of supporting or imagining a relationship between characters or public figures. “Ship” comes from “relationship,” and the relationship sense became associated with X-Files fans in the 1990s, especially those who wanted Fox Mulder and Dana Scully together. Fans may create fan fiction, fan art, edits, or discussions around a ship.

An OTP is not necessarily a canon relationship. A canon ship is confirmed by the original work, while an OTP can be entirely fan-created or remain unresolved in the story. Fans can also have multiple OTPs across different fandoms. The similar term “OT3” refers to a favored three-person pairing or relationship, not a typo for OTP.