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Polyamory

Polyamory is the practice of maintaining committed romantic and/or sexual relationships with more than one partner at the same time, with the consent of all the partners involved[1].

Sources: grade B×8, grade C×7. Last checked 8 October 2026. What the grades mean

Polyamory allows for ethical non-monogamy, which is a subset of the broader consensual non-monogamy[1]. It can often be distinguished from some other forms of ethical non-monogamy because the relationships are loving intimate ones, not purely sexual ones[2]. Swinging and open couples commonly keep emotional monogamy while having sexual relations outside the couple[3]. Unlike other forms of non-monogamy, polyamory is described as notable for privileging emotional intimacy with others[2].

Polyamory can take the form of a triad, a poly family of more than three people, or a 'vee' with one person as the pivot[4]. Kitchen table polyamory describes a polycule whose members are connected enough to gather together, though not all members are necessarily sexually or romantically involved with every other person[5]. Solo polyamory describes people who do not want a primary partner[6].

Recurring themes include love, intimacy, honesty, integrity, equality, communication and commitment[7]. Many polyamorists define fidelity as faithfulness to the promises and agreements made, not as sexual exclusivity[8]. Jealousy is generally treated as a response to explore and understand, with compersion as a goal[9].

The word polyamorous first appeared in Morning Glory Zell-Ravenheart's article 'A Bouquet of Lovers', published in May 1990, as 'poly-amorous'[10]. The Oxford English Dictionary added it in 2006[11]. Polyamory is not generally included in the LGBT umbrella because it is not a sexuality or a gender identity[12]. A 2026 UK survey of five paraphilic interest groups found the groups were more likely to have non-monogamous identities[13].

Sources

  1. Source grade CKlesse, C. (2011). "Notions of love in polyamory: Elements in a discourse on multiple loving" . Laboratorium . 3 (2): 4– 25. Archived from the original on March 17, 2017 . Retrieved December 27, 2016 . soclabo.org (via Wikipedia: Polyamory)
  2. Source grade BBrunning, Luke (2018). "The Distinctiveness of Polyamory" . Journal of Applied Philosophy . 35 (3): 15– 16. doi : 10.1111/japp.12240 . ISSN 0264-3758 . S2CID 147982689 . Archived from the original on October 25, 2020 . Retrieved August 18, 2020 . ora.ox.ac.uk (via Wikipedia: Polyamory)
  3. Source grade CBarker & Langdridge 2012 , p. 71, Swinging: Pushing the Boundaries of Monogamy?. (via Wikipedia: Polyamory)
  4. Source grade BWeitzman, Geri (2006). "Therapy with Clients Who Are Bisexual and Polyamorous" . Journal of Bisexuality . 6 ( 1– 2): 137– 164. doi : 10.1300/J159v06n01_08 . S2CID 143967318 . Archived from the original on March 18, 2015 . Retrieved December 4, 2006 . web.archive.org; Bennett, Jessica (July 29, 2009). "Polyamory: The Next Sexual Revolution?" . Newsweek . Archived from the original on November 4, 2020 . Retrieved December 23, 2020 . newsweek.com; Davidson, Joy (April 16, 2002). "Working with Polyamorous Clients in the Clinical Setting" . Electronic Journal of Human Sexuality . 5 . Archived from the original on September 19, 2020 . Retrieved December 23, 2020 . Also delivered to the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality , Western Regional Conference, April 2002. web.archive.org (via Wikipedia: Polyamory)
  5. Source grade BBergdall, Melissa K.; Blumer, Markie L. C. (January 2, 2015). "More Than Two: A Practical Guide to Ethical Polyamory, by Franklin Veaux and Eve Rickert". Journal of Feminist Family Therapy . 27 (1): 40– 45. doi : 10.1080/08952833.2015.1005963 . ISSN 0895-2833 . S2CID 143233814 . doi.org; Veaux, Franklin; Rickert, Eve (2014). More than two : a practical guide to ethical polyamory . Thorntree Press. ISBN 9780991399703 . OCLC 878396611 . search.worldcat.org (via Wikipedia: Polyamory)
  6. Source grade BZimmerman, Kevin J. (July 2012). "Clients in Sexually Open Relationships: Considerations for Therapists" . Journal of Feminist Family Therapy . 24 (3): 272– 289. doi : 10.1080/08952833.2012.648143 . ISSN 0895-2833 . tandfonline.com (via Wikipedia: Polyamory)
  7. Source grade BHaritaworn, J.; Lin, C.-J.; Klesse, C. (August 15, 2016). "Poly/logue: A Critical Introduction to Polyamory". Sexualities . 9 (5): 515– 29. doi : 10.1177/1363460706069963 . S2CID 145274479 . Polyamory describes a form of relationship where it is possible, valid and worthwhile to maintain (usually long-term) intimate and sexual relationships with multiple partners simultaneously. doi.org; Klesse, C. (August 15, 2016). "Polyamory and its 'Others': Contesting the Terms of Non-Monogamy". Sexualities . 9 (5): 565– 583. doi : 10.1177/1363460706069986 . S2CID 143812369 . doi.org (via Wikipedia: Polyamory)
  8. Source grade BZhu, Jingshu (January 2018). "We're Not Cheaters: Polyamory, Mixed-Orientation Marriage and the Construction of Radical Honesty" (PDF) . Social Science . 14 (1). Archived (PDF) from the original on February 28, 2021 . Retrieved December 24, 2020 . gjss.org; Sudeep, Theres (November 28, 2020). "In Bengaluru, many couples are exploring polyamory" . Deccan Herald . Bangalore , Karnataka , India . Archived from the original on December 4, 2020 . Retrieved December 11, 2020 . deccanherald.com; Cook, Elaine (December 12, 2005). "Commitment in Polyamory" . Electronic Journal of Human Sexuality . 8 . Archived from the original on November 27, 2020 . Retrieved December 23, 2020 . web.archive.org (via Wikipedia: Polyamory)
  9. Source grade BAttridge, Mark (February 4, 2013). "Jealousy and Relationship Closeness" . SAGE Open . 3 (1) 2158244013476054: 215824401347605. doi : 10.1177/2158244013476054 . doi.org (via Wikipedia: Polyamory)
  10. Source grade CAlan (January 6, 2007). " "Polyamory" enters the Oxford English Dictionary, and tracking the word's origins" . Polyamory in the News! . Archived from the original on January 31, 2016 . Retrieved January 27, 2016 . polyinthemedia.blogspot.co.uk (via Wikipedia: Polyamory)
  11. Source grade C"September 2006 update" . The OED today . Oxford University Press . September 14, 2006. Archived from the original on December 28, 2015 . Retrieved January 27, 2016 . oed.com (via Wikipedia: Polyamory)
  12. Source grade C"Why isn't polyamory included in LGBTQ?" . Polyamory Advice . July 6, 2018 . Retrieved March 5, 2024 . askpolyamory.com (via Wikipedia: Polyamory)
  13. Source grade BBrown A, Barker ED, Friedrich S, Rahman Q. A Survey of the United Kink-dom: Investigating Five Paraphilic Interest Groups and Their Demographic and Psychological Correlates. J Sex Res. 2026. doi:10.1080/00224499.2025.2486472
  14. Source grade CFrom PolyOz glossary: "Not in the [linguistic roots of the term] but very important is the commitment to honesty with all partners, and openly negotiated ground rules." Scm-rpg.com Archived February 27, 2009, at the Wayback Machine polyoz.scm-rpg.com.au; From sexuality.org [ link removed ] : "Two of the cultural cornerstones of the polyamory community are honesty and communication: it's expected that you and your existing long-term partner(s) will have talked over what you're comfortable with and what you aren't comfortable with, and that nobody is going around behind anyone else's back." (via Wikipedia: Polyamory)
  15. Source grade CCook, Elaine (2005). "Commitment in Polyamorous Relationships" . Archived from the original on October 4, 2006 . Retrieved July 10, 2006 . aphroweb.net (via Wikipedia: Polyamory)

Grades: A systematic review or official classification, B peer-reviewed study, C expert or community organisation, D practice from the community without research. How we grade sources.

Every claim was checked against its source before publication. Last checked 8 October 2026.