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Polyamory glossary
39 terms used in polyamory, open relationships and swinging, defined in plain English from the sources linked under each entry.
- Agreements
- Explicit or implicit rules and promises made between partners that define what is acceptable within the relationship. In polyamory, fidelity is often defined as faithfulness to these agreements rather than sexual exclusivity. Source: More Than Two, Wikipedia: Polyamory, Wikipedia: Non-monogamy
- Boundaries
- Rules or limits set within a relationship to define acceptable behavior and ensure safety and respect. Boundaries can be physical, sexual, or emotional, and they help partners feel secure. Source: Wikipedia: Polyamory, Wikipedia: Non-monogamy, Wikipedia: Open relationship
- Comet
- An occasional lover who appears in someone's life from time to time without an ongoing romantic commitment. Source: More Than Two
- Compersion
- An empathetic feeling of happiness when a partner enjoys another romantic relationship, often seen as the opposite of jealousy. Source: More Than Two, Wikipedia: Polyamory
- Consensual non-monogamy
- Consensual non-monogamy is a relationship approach where all partners openly agree to have romantic or sexual connections with other people. It includes various styles like polyamory, open relationships, and swinging, all based on mutual consent rather than secrecy. Source: Wikipedia: Non-monogamy, Wikipedia: Open relationship
- Cowboy
- A monogamous man who pursues a polyamorous woman with the aim of separating her from other partners to form an exclusive relationship. Source: More Than Two
- Don't ask, don't tell
- A relationship arrangement where partners agree to allow outside sexual or romantic experiences but choose not to discuss or disclose the details. Source: Wikipedia: Non-monogamy
- Ethical non-monogamy
- Ethical non-monogamy is another name for consensual non-monogamy, highlighting that these relationships are built on honesty, communication, and the consent of all partners. Polyamory is one specific type of ethical non-monogamy that focuses on loving, intimate bonds. Source: Wikipedia: Polyamory, Wikipedia: Non-monogamy
- Fluid bonding
- The practice of exchanging bodily fluids, such as through barrier-free sexual activity, often within a context where partners have agreed to be fluid bonded with each other. Source: More Than Two, Wikipedia: Polyfidelity
- Frubble
- A happy feeling someone gets when seeing their partner connect with another partner. Source: More Than Two
- Full swap
- A type of partner exchange at swinger parties that includes penetrative sex. Source: Wikipedia: Swinging (sexual practice)
- Hotwife
- A married woman who has romantic or sexual partners outside her marriage, often within swinging or BDSM contexts. Source: More Than Two
- Jealousy
- A negative emotional response, often involving fear of loss or possessiveness, that can arise when a partner is involved with someone else. In polyamory, jealousy is typically seen as something to be explored and managed rather than avoided. Source: More Than Two, Wikipedia: Polyamory, Wikipedia: Open relationship
- Kitchen table polyamory
- A style of polyamory that emphasizes family-like connections among all members of a relationship network, even those not romantically involved with each other, often gathering together socially for meals or events. Source: More Than Two, Wikipedia: Polyamory
- Metamour
- The partner of one's partner, with whom one does not have a direct romantic or sexual relationship. Source: More Than Two, Wikipedia: Polyamory
- Mono/poly
- Describes a relationship between one person who identifies as monogamous and another who identifies as polyamorous. Source: More Than Two
- Monogamish
- Monogamish describes a relationship that is mostly monogamous but allows for some occasional outside sexual experiences by agreement. These outside encounters are seen as enhancing the primary partnership without forming separate romantic attachments. Source: More Than Two, Wikipedia: Non-monogamy
- New relationship energy
- The intense excitement and infatuation often felt at the beginning of a new romantic relationship, which can last for months or years and is distinct from the feelings in longer-term relationships. Source: More Than Two, Wikipedia: Open relationship, Wikipedia: New relationship energy
- One penis policy
- An arrangement in a polyamorous relationship where a man may have multiple female partners, but those female partners are only allowed to have sexual relationships with other women, not other men. Source: More Than Two
- Open relationship
- An open relationship is an agreement where one or both partners can have sexual relationships with other people independently. The term can sometimes mean only sexual connections are allowed, not romantic ones, so its meaning varies between people. Source: More Than Two, Wikipedia: Non-monogamy
- Parallel polyamory
- A style of polyamory where a person's multiple relationships are kept largely separate, with little or no interaction between partners, who may choose not to meet or know details about each other. Source: More Than Two, Wikipedia: Polyamory
- Poly family
- A poly family is a group of people in a polyamorous network who consider themselves chosen family, often characterized by close, supportive relationships among metamours and sometimes gathering together for important occasions. Source: More Than Two, Wikipedia: Polyamory
- Polyamory
- Polyamory is the practice of having multiple romantic and/or sexual relationships at the same time, with the knowledge and agreement of everyone involved. It emphasizes love and emotional connection, not just sexual activity, and is a form of ethical or consensual non-monogamy. Source: Wikipedia: Polyamory, Wikipedia: Non-monogamy
- Polycule
- A polycule is a network of people connected through polyamorous relationships, or a drawing that maps those connections, similar to a molecule diagram. Source: More Than Two, Wikipedia: Polyamory
- Polyfidelity
- Polyfidelity is a form of polyamory where members of a closed group agree to limit romantic or sexual activity to people within that group. Source: More Than Two, Wikipedia: Polyamory, Wikipedia: Open relationship
- Polysaturated
- Describes a polyamorous person who is not currently open to new partners due to existing commitments or time limits. Source: More Than Two
- Primary partner
- A primary partner is the person in a hierarchical polyamorous relationship who holds the highest level of emotional, practical, or decision-making priority compared to other partners. Source: More Than Two, Wikipedia: Polyamory, Wikipedia: Non-monogamy
- Quad
- A quad is a polyamorous relationship involving four people, often formed when two couples connect through one partner from each couple. Source: More Than Two
- Relationship anarchy
- A philosophy or practice where people are free to engage in any relationships they choose, without a clear distinction between partner and non-partner, and where autonomy, rejection of hierarchies, and critique of societal relationship norms are central. Source: More Than Two, Wikipedia: Non-monogamy, Wikipedia: Relationship anarchy
- Relationship escalator
- The expected social path from dating through exclusivity, engagement, marriage, and having children, which some non-monogamous individuals may choose to avoid. Source: Wikipedia: Polyamory
- Safer sex
- Sexual practices that reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections, often involving open communication, explicit agreements, and the use of barriers like condoms. Source: More Than Two, Wikipedia: Non-monogamy, Wikipedia: Polyfidelity
- Secondary partner
- A secondary partner is someone in a hierarchical polyamorous relationship whose connection has less emotional intensity, practical involvement, or decision-making power than a primary partner. Source: More Than Two
- Soft swap
- A type of partner exchange at swinger parties where people engage only in non-penetrative activities, often chosen by newcomers or those with personal preferences. Source: Wikipedia: Swinging (sexual practice)
- Solo polyamory
- A style of polyamory where an individual does not seek a primary partner and may resist the typical progression of a relationship from dating to marriage and children. Source: Wikipedia: Polyamory
- Swinging
- Swinging is a form of consensual non-monogamy where a couple typically engages in sexual activities with others, often in social settings like parties. It usually focuses on sexual variety while keeping the primary emotional bond between the original partners. Source: Wikipedia: Polyamory, Wikipedia: Non-monogamy
- Triad
- A relationship involving three people who are all intimately connected with each other. Source: More Than Two, Wikipedia: Polyamory
- Unicorn
- A colloquial term for a hypothetical woman willing to date both members of an existing couple under specific, often restrictive conditions, making such a person very rare. Source: More Than Two
- Vee
- A vee is a relationship shape where one person, called the pivot, is connected to two partners who are not romantically or sexually involved with each other. Source: More Than Two, Wikipedia: Polyamory
- Veto
- A relationship agreement, often in hierarchical polyamory, that gives one partner the power to end or restrict another partner's additional relationships. Source: More Than Two, Wikipedia: Open relationship