- Aftercare: Emotional or physical care provided after sexual play, ensuring that all parties feel safe, respected, and supported, helping to maintain emotional well-being after an intense experience.
- Bisexual: Someone who is attracted to both their own gender and other genders. In the context of swinging or polyamory, bisexuality often refers to fluid attraction and relationships with individuals of multiple genders.
- Bicurious: Someone who is open to or curious about the idea of engaging in romantic or sexual experiences with individuals of the same gender, though they may not yet identify as bisexual.
- Bicomfortable: A term used to describe someone who is comfortable engaging in sexual activities with people of multiple genders, though they may not necessarily identify as bisexual.
- Bluefish: A rare term referring to a single male who is heterosexual and often straight in the swingers lifestyle, he typically engages in play in group settings, with single females or the female half of a couple.
- Bull: A man who engages in sexual activity with a couple, often in the context of hotwifing or cuckolding. Bulls are typically assertive or dominant figures invited into these dynamics.
- Closed Triad: A committed, exclusive relationship involving three people who are romantically and sexually connected and agree not to engage with others outside the triad.
- Compersion: The feeling of joy and happiness when your partner experiences pleasure or fulfillment in their relationships.
- Cuckold: A dynamic where a male partner derives sexual or emotional gratification from his female partner having sexual encounters with other men, typically with elements of submission or humiliation.
- Cuckquean: The female equivalent of a cuckold. In this dynamic, the woman enjoys knowing about or witnessing her male partner engaging with other women, often with elements of submission.
- Dom/sub (Dominant/Submissive): A power exchange relationship where one partner takes the dominant role (Dom) and the other takes a submissive (sub) role, often found in BDSM dynamics.
- Dragon: A term for a bisexual single male who is open to engaging in group play, much like a unicorn but with a male focus. Dragons are often highly sought after by couples in swinging.
- Ethical Non-Monogamy (ENM): Any consensual relationship structure where individuals have multiple romantic or sexual partners. Key elements include openness, honesty, and communication.
- Exhibitionist: Someone who enjoys being watched while engaging in sexual activities, commonly found in swinger and kink communities.
- FMF: Female-Male-Female, a threesome dynamic where two women and one man are involved. The women may or may not engage with each other, depending on preferences.
- Full Swap: A swinging dynamic where couples engage in full sexual intercourse with other partners, as opposed to only limited forms of sexual activity (soft swap).
- GGG: Stands for “Good, Giving and Game.” One should strive to be good in bed, giving “equal time and equal pleasure” to one’s partner, and game “for anything – within reason” ~ Dan Savage
- Heteroflexible: A person who primarily identifies as heterosexual but may occasionally engage in same-sex sexual activities under specific circumstances.
- Hinge: In polyamory or swinging, the person who connects two partners in a relationship where the partners are not romantically or sexually involved with each other.
- Hierarchical Polyamory: A polyamorous structure where relationships are ranked by importance, with terms like primary, secondary, and tertiary to describe different levels of commitment.
- Hotwife: A married woman who engages in sexual encounters with other men, with the knowledge and encouragement of her primary male partner. It focuses on mutual enjoyment for both partners.
- Hotwifing vs. Cuckolding: Both involve a woman having sexual relationships with other men, but while hotwifing is typically more lighthearted and playful, cuckolding can sometimes include elements of submission and humiliation. However, the term doesn’t necessarily imply these dynamics—they may or may not be part of the experience, depending on the preferences of those involved.
- Kitchen Table Polyamory: A polyamorous relationship structure where all partners, including metamours, are comfortable interacting and being around each other, much like a family.
- Metamour: The partner of your partner with whom you do not share a romantic or sexual relationship. Metamours are part of the extended relationship network in polyamory.
- MFM: Male-Female-Male, a threesome involving two men and one woman. The men typically focus on the woman and may or may not engage with each other, depending on preferences.
- Monogamish: A primarily monogamous relationship with some flexibility, allowing for sexual experiences outside the relationship under agreed-upon conditions.
- New Relationship Energy (NRE): The excitement, infatuation, and energy that comes with the beginning of a new romantic or sexual relationship, often experienced in both monogamous and non-monogamous dynamics.
- Non-Hierarchical Polyamory: A polyamorous structure in which all relationships are considered equally important, without ranking partners as primary or secondary.
- No Strings Attached (NSA): Encounters that are purely physical with no emotional attachment or expectation of a long-term relationship.
- Open Relationship: A non-monogamous relationship where partners may have romantic or sexual relationships with others, often with clear rules and agreements in place.
- Open Triad: A relationship between three people where each individual is free to engage in romantic or sexual relationships outside of the triad.
- Play Party: An event where swingers or non-monogamous individuals meet to engage in sexual activities. These can range from small, intimate gatherings to large organized events at clubs.
- Playroom: A designated space at swinger parties or clubs where sexual activities occur, often set up to provide comfort and privacy for individuals or couples engaging in sexual play.
- Poly Swinging/Swoly/Progressive Swinging: A blend of polyamory and swinging, where individuals or couples engage in both sexual and emotional relationships with multiple partners.
- Polycule: A network of people connected through romantic or sexual relationships, often found in polyamorous structures. It includes partners, metamours, and others within a relationship web.
- Polyamory: The practice of engaging in multiple intimate relationships with the knowledge and consent of all partners. It can involve emotional, romantic, and/or sexual connections with more than one person.
- Primary Partner: In non-monogamous relationships, the partner with whom you share the most emotional investment, time, or commitment, with other relationships being secondary or tertiary.
- Quad: A polyamorous relationship involving four people, typically two couples, who are romantically or sexually involved in various configurations.
- Safeword: A pre-agreed word or signal used to immediately stop sexual activity if someone becomes uncomfortable or needs a break. Safewords are often used in BDSM and swinging contexts to ensure consent and safety.
- Same Room: A form of swinging where couples engage in sexual activities with other partners in the same physical space, allowing both partners to watch and participate while remaining close to each other.
- Separate Room: A swinging dynamic where partners engage in sexual activities with others in different rooms, providing more privacy for those who prefer space while exploring new connections.
- Soft Swap: A form of swinging where couples engage in sexual activities with others without full intercourse, often involving kissing, oral sex, or mutual touching.
- Stag and Vixen: A dynamic where the male partner (stag) encourages his female partner (vixen) to engage with other men while he watches or participates, without any elements of humiliation or submission.
- Swinger Club: A venue specifically designed for people in the swinging lifestyle, providing a safe space to socialize, explore, and engage in sexual activities with other swingers.
- Swinging: A form of non-monogamy where individuals or couples engage in sexual activities with others, typically focusing on recreational sex and often within specific communities or events.
- The Lifestyle: A broad term that describes the swinging and non-monogamous community, including events, parties, and the overall culture of swinging.
- Triad: A relationship between three people who are all romantically or sexually involved with one another. Triads can vary in structure depending on the dynamics between each person.
- Unicorn: A single woman who is open to joining couples for sexual activities. Unicorns are often sought after in swinging due to their rarity and unique role.
- Unicorn Hunter: A couple that actively seeks a unicorn (single woman) for threesomes or play. This term can carry negative connotations if the couple focuses solely on their fantasy without considering the unicorn’s desires.
- Veto Power: The ability of one partner in a non-monogamous relationship to end or limit the other’s relationship with a third party. It is usually an agreed-upon boundary but can be controversial as it affects autonomy.
- Voyeur: Someone who enjoys watching others engage in sexual activities, often as part of the swinging lifestyle. Voyeurism is common at clubs or events where watching is encouraged.
