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.

---

Other Word Forms

• polyamorist
  noun
• polyamorous
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of polyamory

First recorded in 1990–95; poly- ( def. ) + Latin amor “love” ( see 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

See Examples For:

polyamory

Eastside Girls, meanwhile, is a tender depiction of Muna's neighbourhood, lovingly lampooning the staples of LA hipster culture – astrology, polyamory, roommate dramas and "negronis with the nice gin".

From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026

But for now, many families still face legal hurdles even in places where polyamory is becoming widely accepted.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 25, 2026

Per her author bio, Davis is now a force in the poly community, presenting workshops on polyamory and editing an online publication called “Polyamory Today.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 13, 2026

Psychologist and couples' therapist Louise Styles said polyamory encouraged some healthy relationship behaviours.

From BBC ● May 26, 2024

The simplest explanation for the cultural association between polyamory and elites is that white, wealthy people in Brooklyn brownstones are the most visible nonmonogamists in the media.

From Slate ● May 5, 2024