Glossary

ENM Terms Glossary

A quick reference for the vocabulary you will hear in ENM, polyamory, and lifestyle communities.

5 min readCommunity & support
glossarydefinitionslanguage

Common terms

Use these definitions as starting points and personalise them to your dynamic.

  • Anchor partnerA partner who provides significant emotional or logistical support without implying hierarchy.
  • CompersionFeeling joy when a partner experiences pleasure or love with someone else.
  • Fluid bondingChoosing to forgo barriers, often with added trust and testing agreements.
  • MetamourYour partner's partner with whom you are not directly romantically involved.
  • New relationship energy (NRE)The adrenaline and infatuation phase of a new connection.
  • ParamourA partner who has a romantic or sexual relationship with you.
  • PolyfidelityA closed group of three or more partners who agree not to date outside the group.
  • Relationship anarchyRejecting default rules; each relationship is built from scratch.
  • Safer-sex agreementDocumented protocols covering testing cadence, barrier use, and disclosure expectations.
  • TriadThree people all dating one another; may be closed or open.
  • UnicornA bisexual person (often a woman) sought to join an existing couple; use respectfully and avoid objectifying language.
  • Vee (V)One person dates two partners who are not romantically involved with each other.

Communication shorthand

Quick codes help in chats and group planning. Define them in your circles.

  • HOTHonour our time; a reminder to send updates if running late.
  • RADReview after date; shorthand for scheduling a debrief.
  • SPOON CHECKA quick inventory of emotional/physical energy available.
  • SAFE WORDPre-agreed word or signal that pauses activity immediately.

Quick actions

  • Adapt this glossary into your shared notes and add your own vocabulary.
  • Ask new partners what terms mean to them before assuming alignment.
  • Update your dating profile with the definitions you care about most.

Continue learning

ENMHubENMHubENM Terms Glossary | ENMHub Education · ENMHub.us