polyamory

American  

[pol-ee-am-er-ee] / ˌpɒl iˈæm ər i /

noun

1. the practice or condition of participating simultaneously in more than one serious romantic or sexual relationship with the knowledge and consent of all partners.

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Other Word Forms

• polyamorist noun
• polyamorous adjective

Etymology

Origin of polyamory

First recorded in 1990–95; poly- ( def. ) + Latin amor “love” ( amorous ( def. ) ) + -y ³ ( def. ); patterned after polygamy ( def. )

Compare meaning

How does polyamory compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• polygamy vs. polyamory
• monogamy vs. polyamory

Example Sentences

It was a “serendipitous” win for a constituency that had not quite consolidated, said Ann Tweedy, a professor at the University of South Dakota School of Law, who has studied polyamory from a legal perspective.

From Los Angeles Times

After the Somerville ordinance passed, several attorneys and other advocates across the country exploring polyamory law banded together to form the Polyamory Legal Advocacy Coalition to ensure those drafting future legislation had the necessary support and expertise.

From Los Angeles Times

Brett Chamberlin, executive director of the Oakland-based Organization for Polyamory and Ethical Nonmonogamy, or OPEN, said the group has helped push for such policies in California and elsewhere because nonmonogamy is greatly stigmatized and new legislation “recognizes the fact that most households don’t reflect the mythical arrangement of a nuclear family.”

From Los Angeles Times

“The current legal system was never designed for all of us,” said Christina Fialho, an attorney and founder of bisexual media representation advocacy group Rewrite the BiLine, who first brought the idea of polyamory protections to West Hollywood Councilmember Byers about a year ago.

From Los Angeles Times

Polyamory is more permanent — a stable lifestyle flexible enough to accommodate instability and rupture.

From Los Angeles Times