polyamorous
3 synonyms and 1 antonym for polyamorous, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Having or open to having more than one romantic or sexual relationship at the same time, with the knowledge and consent of everyone involved.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
non-monogamous
consensually non-monogamous
Antonyms
How to use polyamorous
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
polyamorous relationship
openly polyamorous
polyamorous community
Neutral and standard. Often shortened to "poly" in speech and dating profiles.
Etymology
A modern hybrid compound of Greek poly-, "many", and Latin amor, "love".
Full origin of polyamorous →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between polyamorous and polygamous?
Polyamory is about having multiple loving relationships, married or not, with everyone's consent. Polygamy specifically means being married to more than one spouse, and is often tied to religious or cultural tradition. You can be polyamorous without any marriage at all.
What is the difference between polyamory and an open relationship?
An open relationship usually means one committed couple who agree to sex with other people, while the emotional partnership stays exclusive. Polyamory allows multiple romantic attachments, not just sexual ones. Both fall under consensual non-monogamy.
Is polyamory the same as cheating?
No. The whole basis of polyamory is that every partner knows about the others and agrees to the arrangement. Cheating involves deception and broken agreements, which can happen inside a polyamorous relationship just as easily as a monogamous one.
