polyamory
Ethical multiple partnerships
Polyamory is the practice of having multiple romantic or sexual relationships simultaneously, with the knowledge and consent of everyone involved.
Unlike cheating, polyamory operates openly: They've been polyamorous for years and seem to make it work.
The adjective is polyamorous, often shortened to poly: a poly relationship, Are you poly?
Exchanging ideas or information
- consentVoluntary agreement given
- boundariesLines marking separation
- honestyTruthfulness, sincerity
- transparencyState of being see-through
trust · negotiation · autonomy · respect · integrity · responsibility · agreements · disclosure
Joint venture participants
- intimacyEmotional closeness between people
- connectionA joining or relation
- bondingForming close connections
- commitmentFirm pledge to act
dating · affection · love · romance · attachment · devotion · courtship · closeness
Connected polyamorous partners
- triadGroup of three
- quadEnclosed campus lawn
- veeTwenty-second letter's name
- hingeMovable connecting joint
hierarchical · non-hierarchical · primary · secondary · comet · parallel · constellation · network
Resentful desire for another's advantages
- envyResentful longing for another's
- insecurityUncertainty about oneself
- attachmentConnection or fondness
- processingSystematic operation on data
reassurance · security · love · joy · anxiety · fear · excitement · vulnerability
Moving in arcs
- free-loveNon-exclusive sexual arrangements
- countercultureRejection of mainstream values
- LGBTQSexual and gender minorities
- kinkTight twisted spot
sex-positive · community · visibility · pride · representation · podcasts · munches · workshops
communication
Exchanging ideas or information
- consentVoluntary agreement given
- boundariesLines marking separation
- honestyTruthfulness, sincerity
transparency · trust · negotiation · autonomy · respect · integrity · responsibility · agreements · disclosure · accountability
partners
Joint venture participants
- intimacyEmotional closeness between people
- connectionA joining or relation
- bondingForming close connections
commitment · dating · affection · love · romance · attachment · devotion · courtship · closeness · long-distance
polycule
Connected polyamorous partners
hinge · hierarchical · non-hierarchical · primary · secondary · comet · parallel · constellation · network · closed
jealousy
Resentful desire for another's advantages
- envyResentful longing for another's
- insecurityUncertainty about oneself
- attachmentConnection or fondness
processing · reassurance · security · love · joy · anxiety · fear · excitement · vulnerability · growth
swinging
Moving in arcs
- free-loveNon-exclusive sexual arrangements
- countercultureRejection of mainstream values
- LGBTQSexual and gender minorities
kink · sex-positive · community · visibility · pride · representation · podcasts · munches · workshops
- alternative lifestylesintentional community, communal living, off-grid, homesteading, van life
- poly- wordspolygon, polymer, polyglot, polymath, polynomial
- relationship beliefssoulmate, true love, fidelity, the one, forever love
- sexual ethicssexual morality, sexual ethics, chastity, adultery, human sexuality
- taboostaboo, incest, cannibalism, bestiality, necrophilia
- sexual freedomsexual liberation, sexual revolution, sexual freedom, free love, consent
polyamorymonogamy
One partner at a time
traditional marriage · exclusivity · pair bonding · serial monogamy · coupledom
polyamorycheating
Deceptive rule-breaking
infidelity · adultery · unfaithfulness · having an affair · sneaking around
polyamorycelibacy
Abstaining from intimate relations
singlehood · asexuality · aromanticism · abstinence · solitude