Ambigusweetie: A partner whose relationships aren’t clearly defined.

Bigamy: A relationship in which one person has two spouses.

Bisexual: A person who is attracted to people of the same gender and other genders.

Cheating: A type of unethical non-monogamy where a person has multiple sexual or romantic partners that do not all know of each other. In polyamory, knowingly doing anything that circumvents the agreements of the relationship. It doesn’t just have to be sex or romance behind someone’s back.

Compersion: Refers to the feeling of joy at seeing another partner experience joy.

Cowboy: A monogamous person who dates someone polyamorous with the intention of turning it into a monogamous relationship, sometimes by ending the polyamorous partner’s other relationships.

DADT (Don’t Ask Don’t Tell): A version of ethical non-monogamy in which an open relationship is agreed upon, but neither partner shares intimate details about their interactions with other lovers.

Demisexual: A person who feels limited and, typically, context-dependent sexual attraction.

Dyad: Another word for a couple, or two people in a relationship with one another.

Egalitarian: A situation or relationship that is fair, equitable, and in which all parties have equal power.

Emotional Fidelity: An agreement between two or more people to be emotionally faithful to each other.

Fidelity: Emotional or sexual faithfulness to one’s partner(s).

Fluid Bonded: This refers to the pre-negotiated exchange of bodily fluids during sexual activity. AKA: Sexual contact without safer sex barriers.

Metamour: Your partner’s partner.

Polyamorous: The state of having multiple sexually or romantically committed relationships at the same time, with the consent of all partners involved. It means having multiple committed relationships with people you are mutually in love with, and everyone wants it to be that way. This is not to be confused with swinging or multiple relationships, where you are sleeping with the other people or they are friends with benefits, whom you love.

Polyfidelity: A closed polyamorous relationship. Generally, this involves more than two people involved in relationships with each other, all of whom have agreed not to pursue other relationships.

Polyfuckery: People who pretend to be polyamorous, usually to get sex or attention. This is often engaged in by “fuckboys” or “fuckgirls.” Some of these people will engage in multiple polyamorous relationships for a short amount of time but will end them all before any can become intimate. Using the guise of Polyamory to create connections that are void of love, ethics, integrity or consent.

Polysaturated: The point at which the thought of another relationship, or another hobby, leaves one feeling more exhausted than excited.

Polyunsaturated: When a polyamorous person already has at least one partner and is actively seeking other partners.

Photo by Romain Vignes on Unsplash