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Definitions

Here are some definitions for terms you might read on this blog. Thanks to the Poly Acceptance test on okCupid for helping with the lingo!

Closed = forbidding romantic relations outside the committed circle. A traditional legal marriage is closed. Both partners vow to confine sexual relations to within the marriage.

FFF = a three-woman polyamorous (often polyfidelitous) relationship (or triad).

FFFF = a four-woman polyamorous (often polyfidelitous) relationship (or quad).

FMF = a one-man, two-woman polyamorous (often polyfidelitous) relationship (or triad).

FMFF = a one-man, three-woman polyamorous (often polyfidelitous) relationship (or quad).

MFM = a two-man, one-woman polyamorous (often polyfidelitous) relationship (or triad).

MFMF = a two-man, two-woman polyamorous (often polyfidelitous) relationship (or quad).

MFMM = a three-man, one-woman polyamorous (often polyfidelitous) relationship (or quad).

MMM = a three-man polyamorous (often polyfidelitous) relationship (or triad).

MMMM = a four-man polyamorous (often polyfidelitous) relationship (or quad).

Monogamy = a closed relationship (e.g., marriage) between two people. Sexual relations are prohibited outside the two-person circle. No new partners can be added. A monogamist who divorces, and then marries someone else, is a serial monogamist.

Open = allowing romantic relations outside the committed circle. A marriage can be open, if both partners agree to allow each other to have sexual relations outside the marriage.

Poly = polyamorist, polyamory, polyfidelitist, polyfidelity, swinger, swinging, etc.

Polyamory = close relationships with multiple partners. Romance with more than one person is allowed, if all connected parties agree to the arrangement. The emphasis is on love, but sex can happen. Total honesty between all partners is a given.

Polyandry = polygamy involving multiple husbands (but not more than one wife).

Polyfidelity = a closed, virtually (if not legally) marriage-like relationship between more than two people. Everyone vows to confine sexual relations to within the marriage-like circle. New partners can be added if all existing partners agree.

Polygamy = marriage involving more than three persons. Polygyny and polyandry are subsets of polygamy; religion-based polygyny is usually called “polygamy.”

Polygyny = polygamy involving multiple wives (but not more than one husband).

Polymore = someone who loves polyamory.

Polyphobe = someone who hates polyamory.

Quad = a polyamorous (often polyfidelitous) relationship involving four persons.

Serial Monogamy = something of a gray area between monogamy and polyamory: a succession of closed two-person relationships (e.g., marriages punctuated by divorce). So there’s one romantic partner at a time, but multiple partners over the years.

Swinging = sexual relationships with multiple partners, often based from a loving, central, two-person relationship such as a marriage. Outside that duo, emotional involvement is generally avoided and sex is emphasized. Truthfulness is a given.

Triad = a polyamorous (often polyfidelitous) relationship involving three persons.