A Quickie Guide of Common Non-monogamy Terms
A handful of common non-monogamy terms you may find in the wild…
Compersion:
An experience of happiness or pleasure when your partner is happy
New Relationship Energy (NRE):
Heightened sexual and/or romantic attraction at the beginning of a relationship (AKA the “honeymoon period,” being twitterpated)
Kitchen Table Polyamory (KTP):
A structure or style of relating where partners and metamours feel comfortable hanging out and getting to know one another
Unicorn:
A person interested in being sexual and/or romantic with both members of a couple. Related: “Unicorn Hunters” - usually derogatory term for a couple looking for said unicorn. Often frowned upon because it is common for “hunters” to disrespect the unicorn’s boundaries in order to accommodate the primary relationship.
Metamour:
Your partner’s partner (who you’re not directly sexually/romantically involved with)
Polycule:
A name for your network of partners, lovers, intimate friends, etc.
Fluid Bonded:
When partners agree to have sex with each other without barrier methods - but use barrier methods with others, usually.
Hierarchical:
A structure that prioritizes the couple as primary and ranks relationships outside of the couple as secondary, tertiary, etc. Sometimes descriptive. Sometimes prescriptive.
