A

Ambiamory
A relationship preference or orientation in which someone can find fulfillment in either monogamous or non-monogamous relationships, depending on the people and circumstances involved.

Anchor Partner
A partner who provides an important, stable emotional or practical connection without necessarily being designated as a primary partner.

Autonomy
An individual's ability to make decisions about their own life, relationships, and participation in activities while recognizing the autonomy of others.

B

Boundary
A personal limit that defines what someone is willing to do, accept, or participate in, including actions they may take to protect their well-being.

C

Comet Partner
A partner with whom someone maintains a meaningful connection despite seeing each other infrequently, often because of distance, schedules, or other circumstances.

Compersion
Positive feelings, such as happiness or satisfaction, that someone may experience in response to a partner's enjoyment of another relationship or connection.

Consent
A voluntary, informed, and ongoing agreement to participate in a particular activity or relationship arrangement that can be withdrawn.

Consensual Non-Monogamy (CNM)
An umbrella term for relationship arrangements that allow multiple romantic or sexual connections with the knowledge and consent of those involved. Often used interchangeably with ethical non-monogamy, particularly in research.

Couple's Agreement
A relationship agreement between two partners that establishes shared expectations about their relationship, including how other relationships may be approached.

Couple's Privilege
Social, legal, practical, or relationship-specific advantages an established couple may hold, which can affect the experiences or decision-making opportunities of other partners.

D

De-escalation
An intentional change that reduces certain aspects of a relationship, such as shared responsibilities, time together, or commitments, without necessarily ending the relationship.

Descriptive Hierarchy
Differences in relationship priority, responsibilities, or practical commitments that arise from existing circumstances rather than rules establishing predetermined authority.

Disclosure
The sharing of information about relationships, partners, activities, or relevant developments, whether voluntarily or as part of a relationship agreement.

Don't Ask, Don't Tell (DADT)
A relationship arrangement in which outside connections are permitted but partners agree to limit or avoid sharing details about those connections.

Dyad
A relationship or interaction involving two people.

E

Enthusiastic Consent
Consent that is communicated through clear, voluntary, and affirmative agreement rather than assumed from silence, lack of resistance, or previous consent.

Envy
A feeling of wanting something another person has or experiences. In ENM discussions, envy may be distinguished from jealousy, which more often involves concern about losing or threatening an existing relationship or connection.

Ethical Non-Monogamy (ENM)
An umbrella term for relationship arrangements that allow multiple romantic or sexual connections with the knowledge and consent of those involved. The term emphasizes ethical considerations, although its use does not establish that every aspect of a particular relationship is ethical.

F

Fluid Bonding
A term used by some people to describe sexual relationships in which partners agree to engage in certain sexual activities without barriers, typically following discussions about sexual health, testing, and risk.

Full Swap
A swinging term generally describing an arrangement in which partners engage in sexual activities, including intercourse, with other people or couples.

G

Garden Party Polyamory
An approach to polyamory in which metamours may have limited contact but are comfortable interacting at occasional social gatherings.

H

Hinge
A person who has separate relationships with two or more partners who are not romantically involved with one another.

Hierarchical Non-Monogamy
A relationship structure in which some partnerships receive greater priority, responsibilities, privileges, or decision-making authority than others.

Hotwife
A term for a consensual relationship dynamic in which a married or partnered woman has sexual experiences with other people with the knowledge and agreement of her partner. Specific meanings and expectations vary among people who use the term.

I

Informed Consent
An agreement to participate in an activity or relationship arrangement made voluntarily, with an understanding of relevant information, expectations, and potential consequences.

J

Jealousy
An emotional response that may involve fear, insecurity, comparison, or concern about a perceived threat to a valued relationship.

K

Kitchen Table Polyamory (KTP)
An approach to polyamory in which partners and metamours are comfortable interacting socially and may develop friendly or familiar relationships.

L

"The Lifestyle"
A term commonly used within swinging communities to refer to swinging and the associated social community, events, practices, and relationship arrangements.

Limerence
A state of intense romantic or emotional preoccupation with another person that may involve persistent thoughts, idealization, and a strong desire for reciprocation.

Long-Distance Relationship (LDR)
A romantic or intimate relationship in which partners live far enough apart that regular in-person contact may require significant travel or planning.

M

Metamour
A partner's other partner with whom someone does not have a romantic relationship.

Metamour Relationship
The connection between people who share a partner but are not romantically involved with one another, ranging from little contact to close friendship.

Messy List
A relationship agreement identifying specific people or categories of people that partners agree not to pursue romantically or sexually, often because of potential social, professional, family, or interpersonal complications.

Mono-Poly Relationship
A relationship in which one person prefers or practices monogamy while another practices polyamory or another form of non-monogamy, with mutual knowledge and consent.

N

Nesting Partner (NP)
A partner with whom someone shares a home, regardless of whether the relationship has a designated hierarchical status.

New Relationship Energy (NRE)
Heightened excitement, attraction, attention, or emotional intensity that may occur during the early stages of a romantic or intimate connection.

Non-Hierarchical Non-Monogamy
An approach to non-monogamy that avoids predetermined rankings of partners while recognizing that relationships may differ in commitments, responsibilities, and practical circumstances.

O

One Penis Policy (OPP)
A relationship rule or agreement that permits some outside relationships while restricting or prohibiting sexual relationships with other people who have penises. The term is commonly used critically.

Open Relationship
A relationship arrangement in which partners agree that one or more of them may pursue romantic, sexual, or intimate connections with other people.

P

Parallel Polyamory
An approach to polyamory in which a person's different partners have limited interaction and maintain largely separate social or relationship experiences.

Polyamory
A form of consensual non-monogamy involving the practice of, or openness to, multiple romantic or emotionally intimate relationships with the knowledge and consent of those involved.

Polycule
A network of people connected through polyamorous relationships, including partners and metamours who may not be directly involved with one another.

Polyfidelity
A form of polyamory in which a defined group of people agree to maintain romantic or sexual relationships within the group and limit or exclude sexual or romantic relationships outside it.

Polysaturation
The point at which someone reaches their available capacity for additional relationships because of time, energy, emotional resources, or other responsibilities.

Prescriptive Hierarchy
A relationship hierarchy established through explicit rules or agreements that assign particular priorities, privileges, or decision-making authority to certain partnerships.

Primary Partner
A partner designated as holding greater priority, commitments, or decision-making authority within a hierarchical relationship structure.

Q

Quad
A relationship configuration involving four people connected through romantic or intimate partnerships, without necessarily requiring every person to be partnered with every other person.

R

Relationship Agreement
A shared understanding between people in a relationship about expectations, commitments, communication, behaviors, or responsibilities.

Relationship Anarchy
An approach to relationships that questions predetermined roles and hierarchies, emphasizing autonomy and agreements developed according to the needs of the people involved.

Relationship Escalator
The conventional expectation that romantic relationships should progress through milestones such as exclusivity, cohabitation, marriage, or shared finances.

Relationship Orientation
A term used by some people to describe their enduring preferences or sense of identity regarding relationship structures, such as monogamy or non-monogamy.

Rule
A requirement or restriction intended to govern another person's behavior within a relationship arrangement, whether established mutually or imposed by one person.

S

Safe Word
A predetermined word or signal used to communicate that an activity should pause, change, or stop, particularly when ordinary words or signals may not clearly communicate a participant's wishes.

Safer Sex Agreement
A shared understanding about practices intended to manage sexual health risks, including testing, barrier use, disclosure, or other preventive measures.

Secondary Partner
A partner whose relationship is designated as having less priority or fewer privileges than a primary partnership within a hierarchical relationship structure.

Sexual Health Disclosure
The sharing of relevant information about sexual health, testing, potential exposures, or risk-related practices to support informed decisions between partners.

Soft Swap
A swinging term generally describing sexual activity with other people or couples that excludes intercourse. What activities are included or excluded varies according to the agreements of the people involved.

Solo Polyamory
An approach to polyamory that emphasizes personal autonomy and independent life decisions rather than organizing relationships around a primary or nesting partnership.

Stag & Vixen
A consensual relationship dynamic in which a woman, sometimes called the vixen, has sexual experiences with other people with the knowledge and agreement of her male partner, sometimes called the stag. The specific meaning and involvement of the stag varies among people who use the term.

STI Panel
A group of laboratory tests used to screen for sexually transmitted infections. The infections included in an STI panel vary by healthcare provider, testing service, individual risk factors, and tests requested.

Swinging
A form of consensual non-monogamy generally centered on sexual experiences with people outside an established relationship, often involving couples participating together.

T

Transition Point
A meaningful change in a relationship or relationship structure, such as opening a relationship, adding a partner, changing agreements, or altering shared commitments. ENMP uses this term within its research framework; it is not necessarily standardized across broader ENM terminology.

Triad
A relationship configuration involving three people in which each person has a romantic or intimate relationship with the other two.

U

Unicorn
A term commonly used in non-monogamous communities for a person, often a bisexual woman, who is sought by an established couple for a sexual or romantic relationship involving both partners. The meaning can vary depending on context.

Unicorn Hunting
The practice of an established couple seeking a third person, often a bisexual woman, to join their relationship under conditions primarily determined by the couple. The term is frequently used critically when the third person's autonomy or needs are not equally considered.

V

V Relationship (Vee)
A relationship configuration in which one person has separate romantic or intimate relationships with two people who are not romantically involved with each other. The person connecting the two relationships is commonly called the hinge.

Veto Power
An arrangement that gives one partner the authority to require another partner to end or significantly change a separate relationship.

W

X

Y

Z