compersion

American  

[kuhm-per-zhuhn, -shuhn] / kəmˈpɛr ʒən, -ʃən /

noun

1. (especially among polyamorous people) a feeling of happiness caused by another person's happiness, especially by seeing one's romantic or sexual partner interacting positively with another one of their partners.

   Seeing them giggle like teenagers as they came in from a date filled me with compersion.

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Etymology

Origin of compersion

Coined in 1990–95 by the members of Kerista, a now-defunct polyamorous community in San Francisco; of unclear origin; perhaps formed (using com- ( def. ) ) as the opposite of dispersion ( def. ), or perhaps a blend of compassion ( def. ) and conversion ( def. )

Example Sentences

Not everyone can shed jealousy, let alone manage “compersion,” which entails rejoicing in a partner’s happiness with someone else.

From Los Angeles Times

A "metamour" refers to your partner's partner, and "compersion" refers to a sense of happiness you feel for a partner who is happy with another partner.

From Salon

Rich: His compersion is flowing.

From Slate

We feel genuine compersion when each of us finds happiness with another partner.

From Slate

Within the polyamorous community there is a word for the opposite emotion, “compersion” – the feeling of joy that someone else is happy.

From The Guardian