Glossary

A clear reference of terms about relationships, intimacy and different formats — from polyamory and swinging to compersion and boundaries. Short and non-judgemental.

Aftercare Aftercare — the mutual care and support partners give each other after an intense experience. … BDSM BDSM — an umbrella term for consensual practices built around power, roles and physical … Boundaries in relationships Boundaries in relationships — personal limits of comfort that help partners respect each other. … Compersion Compersion — the warm feeling of joy for a partner who is happy in a relationship or intimacy … Consent Consent — a voluntary, informed and revocable 'yes' to any interaction. Definition, context, an … Cuckold Cuckold — a partner who takes pleasure in his partner growing close to someone else by mutual … Dominance and submission (D/s) Dominance and submission (D/s) — a dynamic with a voluntary, consensual exchange of power roles. … Dyad Dyad — a relationship between two people; the basic unit of connection in both monogamy and … Ethical non-monogamy Ethical non-monogamy — an umbrella term for relationships with several partners built on … Fetish Fetish — a persistent attraction to a particular object, body part or scenario. Definition, … Hierarchical polyamory Hierarchical polyamory — a model where relationships are divided into primary and secondary by … Hotwife Hotwife — a partner who, by the couple's mutual consent, grows close to others while her partner … Limerence Limerence — intense infatuation with obsessive thoughts and a craving for reciprocity. What it … Metamour Metamour — your partner's partner, with whom you have no romantic connection of your own; a … Monogamy Monogamy — a form of relationship in which a person is in a romantic and sexual bond with only … Nesting partner Nesting partner — a person you live with and share a household with, regardless of the format of … NRE — new relationship energy NRE (new relationship energy) — the vivid rush of infatuation and excitement at the start of a … Open relationship Open relationship — a format in which partners keep their main couple but allow intimacy with … Polyamory Polyamory — the practice of honest romantic relationships with several partners at once, with … Polyfidelity Polyfidelity — a closed group of partners faithful only to each other with no outside … Polygamy Polygamy — a form of marriage in which a person has several spouses at once; distinct from … Role-play Role-play — acting out characters and scenarios together for intimacy and fantasy. Definition, … Safeword Safeword — a pre-chosen signal to instantly stop or slow the pace. Definition, context and … Solo polyamory Solo polyamory — an approach to multiple relationships without merging households or a … Swinger couple Swinger couple — partners who, by mutual consent, swap or socialize with other couples. … Swinging Swinging — a form of non-monogamy in which couples, by mutual consent, swap partners or share … Switch Switch — a person comfortable in both the leading and following roles within a power dynamic. … Triad Triad — a polyamorous relationship between three people connected romantically with each other … Unicorn Unicorn — a person willing to join a couple as a third partner; a term from the world of … Vanilla Vanilla — familiar, conventional preferences in intimacy without BDSM or kink practices. …