Non-Monogamy Terminology

Anchor Partner: Partner that is the anchor of one’s life in a non-hierarchical manner (descriptive not prescriptive). An individual can have multiple anchor partners.

Comet:

Compersion: The feeling of joy one feels at the happiness their partner experiences from relationships with other partners. Sometimes called Frubble.

Couple’s Privilege: Actual or perceived advantages an established couple has when new partners are added to the dynamic.

Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell: A form of parallel polyamory where the partners agree not to ask each other about other partners or disclose details about their other interactions.

Hinge:

Metamour (or Meta): Your partners or lovers other partners or lovers.

Mono-normative (or Mono-typical):

Nesting Partner: A partner that you cohabitate with. It doesn’t necessarily have to be an anchor partner or any kind of hierarchical designation.

NRE (New Relationship Energy):

One Penis Policy:

Polycule: A network or web of interconnected relationships. A portmanteau of “poly” and “molecule” because when visualized it can often look like a two-dimensional ball-and-stick model of a molecule.

Primary Partner: The prioritized partner in a hierarchical situation. An individual can have multiple primary partners.

Relationship Escalator: A typically culturally dictated or ingrained concept of a relationship progression as building through a series of progressive milestones much like the steps on an escalator. Relationships success or satisfaction is often measured based on where on the relationship escalator a relationship is versus where it is expected to be. This is prevalent in monogamous culture but can be a part of non-monogamy as well if it is desired.

Secondary/Tertiary… Partner: Partners beyond the primary partner in a hierarchical situation. An individual can have multiple primary partners

Telemour: The partners or lovers of your metamours that don’t have a shared connection with you.

Unicorn: Typically a bisexual woman who partners with a heterosexual couple as their third and is usually subject to the conditions of the couples existing relationship. See Unicorn Hunting.

Unicorn Hunting: When a heterosexual couple seeks a (usually) bisexual woman as a third partner for their relationship. See Unicorn.

Veto Power: When a partner has the power or authority to forbid the other partner from certain activities or even having certain connections or relationships.