Concepts

Polyamory

The expansion of romantic relationships beyond two people with the consent and knowledge of all parties involved.

Multigamy

A broad category of all romantic interactions involving more than two people.

Polybombing

A feeling of shock when a monogamous person's partner brings up their desire to be polyamorous.

Mononormativity

The societal expectation that monogamy is the only acceptable type of relationship

Monogamy

The relationship structure or orientation where you have or desire one partner.

Only one romantic relationship may exist at a time.

Unicorn Hunter

An established couple looking for a bisexual woman for a sexual relationship

Polycule

A name for the people in polyamorous relationship. The equivalent to "couple" for a monogamous relationship.

Compersion

When you experience joy from someone else's joy.

Metamour

Your partner's partner.

Sexual Friendship

A relationship where the primary focus is on friendship, but sexual activities can occur. AKA Friends with Benefits (FWB).

New Relationship Energy

An elated feeling or infatuation at the early stages of a relationship

Anchor Partner

A partner that provides comfort and security. Anchor partners frequently cohabitate and share finances, children, or are entangled in other meaningful ways.

Polyfidelity

An agreement in a polycule to be exclusive to the members of the group.

Ambiamory

A relationships orientation where you could be either monogamous or multigamous, depending on factors like life stage, relationship structure, and state of mind.

Hierarchy

A polyamorous relationship dynamic where one relationship is prioritized over others.

Triad

A relationship with three people where each person is in a relationship with the other two.

Swinging

A relationship where a couple has recreational sex with other people.

Couple's Privilege

A difference in power between a well established relationship and a new one.

V Relationship

A relationship with three people where one person is in a relationship with the other two.

Garden Party Polyamory

A polyamorous dynamic where metamours may meet at large group gatherings.

Mono-Poly Relationship

A dyad relationship where one person is polyamorous and the other person is monoamorous.

Relationship Anarchy

A relationship philosophy where people have the freedom to define their relationships based on their own needs and desires.

Solo Polyamory

A relationship style focused on yourself. All romantic decisions are made with the intent to remain autonomous and avoid entanglement.

Parallel Polyamory

A polyamorous relationship dynamic where metamours have little to no interaction

Monoamory

A personal desire to romantically love one person at a time.

Monogamish

Relationship structure where a monogamous couple will occasionally have consensual interactions with others.

Entanglement

The blurring of boundaries and separation between two people.

Relationship Escalator

The normalized tendency to move a relationship to more intimate stages over time.

Primary Partner

A partner in a hierarchical relationship that may be given higher priority in time and attention

One Penis Policy

A rule between a multigamous couple to limit the type of partner they can have sex with

Dyad

A relationship with two people.

Play Partners

A relationship dynamic focused on sexual fun with little relationship commitment

Nesting Partner

A romantic partner where you share a living space.

Comet

A partner that you see once every long while, like the sighting of a comet.

Don't Ask Don't Tell

A rule in a relationship to keep information between partners siloed and separate.

Fluid Bonding

Barrier free sex in a multigamous relationship

Kitchen Table Poly

A polyamorous dynamic where all people involved communicate frequently

Polysaturation

A state of emotional capacity with existing relationships.

Hinge

A partner with two partners in a "V" polycule

Poly Under Duress

When one partner reluctantly agrees to polyamory for fear of losing their partner

Chosen Family

The family you choose to share your life with, not the one you were born into.

Secondary Partner

A partner in a hierarchical relationship that may be given lower priority in time and attention

Love Bombing

An emotional manipulation tactic where a person showers affection and attention on a target to make them emotionally dependent.

Cowboy / Cowgirl

A person who tries to lasso a partner out of polyamory and into monogamy.

Established Relationship Energy

A feeling of contentment in an established relationship