The first category of singlehood is called technical singlehood.
If an individual doesn't have a boyfriend or girlfriend, then this person can be classified as being technically single.
But a person who has made a non-legal romantic commitment, can be considered as being technically involved.
The second category of singlehood is the legal form of being single.
When the government or law recognizes an individual as being unmarried, that person is legally single.
On the other hand, when two individuals join hands and file marriage papers at a courthouse, these individuals are no longer legally single.
A very interesting factor to take into consideration, is the fact that it's possible for someone to technically be in a relationship, but at the same time be legally single.
The third category of singleness is called mental singlehood.
A person who doesn't have an individual to whom he/she is emotionally bonded to, is mentally single.
But if a person is constantly thinking about being with or is crazy about another person, than that individual is not mentally single.
A very important point we must consider is the fact that it's possible for a person to be legally involved with one person but mentally bonded with another.
For example, a married man who sees another woman who he begins to constantly think about being with, is involved mentally with that woman, even if he doesn't say a single word to her.
It is also important to note that before a married man or woman physically commits adultery on his/her spouse, he/she commits the act mentally.
In concluding, it's important to note that it's possible for a person to be involved romantically with another, but at the same time still be single.
This is possible because there are there categories of singlehood.
First of all, a person is technically single, if he/she doesn't have a boy or girlfriend.
Secondly, a person is legally single if he/she is recognized as being unmarried by the government.
Finally, a person is considered to be mentally single if he/she is not psychologically bonded with another person.
If you are technically, legally, and mentally single, than you are fully single.
But if you fall into 1 or 2 categories than you are partially single.
Therefore asking a person whether he/she is single doesn't give you a complete view of the individual's state of singlehood.