Internet
roaching
What does roaching mean?
Secretly seeing multiple people while letting a partner assume you're exclusive, then justifying it by claiming you never agreed to be exclusive when you're finally caught.
"He was roaching the whole time, swore we 'never said exclusive' when I found out."
Origin
Coined around 2017 and named after the saying that for every cockroach you spot, many more are hidden. It spread through dating media as a term for secret multi-dating.
Frequently asked questions
What does roaching mean in dating?
It's secretly dating several people while letting a partner think you're exclusive, then claiming you never agreed to exclusivity once you're caught.
Why is it called roaching?
The name comes from the idea that for every cockroach you see, there are many more hidden, just like the secret partners involved.
How is roaching different from having a roster?
A roster is openly juggling options when single. Roaching is hiding it while one person believes the relationship is exclusive.
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