Polyamory Explained: 3 Types of Polyamorous Relationships

Polyamory is the practice of having more than one romantic partner at the same time. Polyamorous people may describe being poly as loving more than one person. The term “polyamory” first appeared in the 1990s, and it comes from the Greek “poly” (many) and the Latin “amor” (love). Polyamory falls under the umbrella of non-monogamy, a term that covers intimate relationships that fall outside of monogamous relationships (relationships where sex and intimacy happen between just two partners).

There are many different types of polyamorous relationship structures, including:

1. 1. Polyfidelity: In this poly relationship type, intimacy is restricted to certain members within a group. This keeps the polycule (network of partners) small. Everyone in the polycule might be romantically linked, such as in a throuple (a romantic relationship between three people), or there may be multiple metamours (your partner's partner, with whom you have no romantic relationship).
2. 2. Solo polyamory: Solo polyamory is the practice of polyamory in which one person may engage in multiple romantic or sexual relationships while remaining independent, typically without cohabitating with any of their partners.
3. 3. Hierarchical polyamory: In a hierarchical polyamorous relationship, there is one primary relationship; partners outside of that relationship are considered secondary or tertiary. For example, someone in a hierarchical relationship with two partners will generally devote more time to their primary partner than their secondary partner.

Typically, open relationships involve two people in a romantic relationship who have other sexual partners. Partners who practice polyamory have multiple romantic, loving relationships. Both open relationships and polyamorous relationships are types of ethical non-monogamy (ENM), but only polyamory emphasizes falling in love with multiple poly people at once.

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