bipolyamorist:

I made a graphic showing how the different types of nonmonogamous relationships all fit together. Hopefully this can clear some stuff up for people! Some of these definitions may vary, but I made this based off of pretty common definitions. Feel free to use this wherever you want, all I ask is that you leave my name on it.

More definitions of poly terms here (link)

Archive of Flag: https://archive.md/zaVMA

Text on the side:
Nonmonogamy: blanket term which covers several types of interpersonal relationships in which an individual forms multiple and simultaneous sexual or romantic bonds with informed consent from all involved.
Polyamory: the philosophy or state of being non-platonically involved with more than one person at the same time with informed consent from all involved.
Polygamy: the practice or custom of having more than one wife or husband at the same time
Polyandry: polygamy in which a woman has more than one husband
Polygyny: polygamy in which a man has more than one wife

Open relationship: any configuration in which partners are allowed to seek other partners
Closed relationship: any configuration in which partners are not allowed to seek other partners outside the relationship

Graphic created by biopolyamorist. Font: OpenDyslexic.

Graphic is a venn-diagram. Polygyny and polyandry are included in polygamy. Polygamy is included in polyamory. Polyamory includes both open relationships and closed relationships. Some open relationships are not involved in polyamory, some open relationships are involved in polygamy.

Context:

“Poly Terms

I’m trying to compile a list of terms related to polyamory for newcomers to the community and anyone else who’s interested in learning about it (I practically had a google tab open whenever I was reading about poly stuff). If you think anything should be added or changed, please let me know.

• Bigamy: being married (in a legal sense) while already married to another person (usually illegal)
• Bipoly: a shortened term for bisexual polyamorous
• Closed relationship: any configuration in which partners are not allowed to seek other partners outside the configuration
• Compersion: the opposite of jealousy; an empathetic response to a partner’s happiness with their other partner(s)
• Cowboy: a monogamous man who engages in a relationship with a polyamorous woman with the intention of separating her from any other partners and bringing her into a monogamous relationship
• Don’t ask, don’t tell (DADT): a relationship structure in which a person who is partnered can have additional non-platonic relationships on the condition that their partner doesn’t know anything about the additional relationships or meet any of the other people (often seen as unhealthy due to decreased communication)
• Emotional fidelity: a belief or practice that emotional intimacy or love must be kept exclusive to a particular relationship, though sexual activity or other forms of physical intimacy may occur outside of that relationship
• Fluid bonding: of or related to practices which involve the exchange of bodily fluids, such as barrier-free sexual intercourse
• Handfasting: a Pagan/Wiccan ceremony that unites two people in a common bond; dissimilar to a traditional Western marriage in that it doesn’t necessarily convey sexual exclusivity or permanence
• Hierarchical relationship: a polycule configuration in which there is a primary partnership which takes priority over one or more secondary arrangements
• Intentional/chosen family: a family made up of people who have consciously and deliberately chosen to consider one another as a single family, as opposed to family that is the result of birth or marriage
• Metamour: your partner’s partner that you are not otherwise involved with non-platonically
• Monogamish: a term used to describe a relationship which is a closed couple most of the time, but has exceptions
• Monogamy: the practice or state of having a non-platonic relationship with only one partner
• Non-platonic: a relationship that has a romantic and/or sexual nature
• Nonmonogamy: blanket term which covers several types of interpersonal relationships in which an individual forms multiple and simultaneous sexual or romantic bonds with informed consent from all involved
• NRE: acronym for new relationship energy, the feeling of euphoria associated with the beginning of a relationship
• One penis policy: a poly arrangement in which a man is allowed to have multiple female partners, who are allowed to have sex with other women but forbidden to have other male partners
• Open relationship: any configuration in which partners are allowed to seek other partners
• ORE: acronym for old relationship energy, the feeling of comfort, security, and stability associated with a long-standing romantic relationship
• Paramour: a married person’s outside lover (similar to metamour)
• Poly/mono (or mono/poly): a relationship between a person who identifies as polyamorous and a person who identifies as monogamous
• Polyamory spectrum: a continuum of monogamy to polyamory
• Polyamory: the philosophy or state of being non-platonically involved with more than one person at the same time with informed consent from all involved
• Polyandry: polygamy in which a woman has more than one husband
• Polycule/intimate network: a network of people who are involved in non-platonic relationships and their metamours
• Polyfidelity: three or more people in a closed relationship
• Polygamy: the practice or custom of having more than one wife or husband at the same time
• Polygyny: polygamy in which a man has more than one wife
• Polysaturated: polyamorous, but not currently open to new relationships because of the number of existing partners, or time constraints that might make new relationships difficult
• Polysexual: someone who has the capacity to be attracted to multiple genders, usually more than two (frequently confused with polyamorous)
• Primary partner: in a hierarchal relationship, the partnership with the most involvement, or sometimes the person accorded the most importance
• Relationship anarchy: a philosophy or practice in which people are seen as free to engage in any relationships they choose, any relationship choice is allowable, and in which there is not necessarily a clear distinction between “partner” and “non-partner”
• Relationship orientation: a person’s identity as related to their preference for monogamy or polyamory
• Secondary partner: in a hierarchal relationship, the partnership(s) in which either by intent or circumstance, are given less in terms of time, energy, commitment and priority than a primary relationship
• Serial monogamy: not included under the polyamory umbrella; multiple monogamous relationships one after the other
• Solo poly: an approach to polyamory that emphasizes autonomy and the freedom to form relationships without seeking permission from others
• Swinging: a configuration in which a couple has a relationship that is open strictly for sexual flings
• Tertiary partner: in a hierarchal relationship, the partnership(s) that are generally quite casual, and/or limited with respect to time, energy, or priority
• Unicorn hunters: a couple looking for a woman to be their “unicorn” (usually has a negative connotation)
• Unicorn: a bisexual polyamorous woman who is open to forming a (usually closed) triad with an established couple; referred to as a unicorn because women as described above are extremely rare”