The UK Kink GuideEvidence-led glossaryA form of consensual non-monogamy that allows multiple loving, romantic or emotionally intimate relationships with the knowledge and agreement of those involved.
Manual claim and limitation notes are shown where an individual source audit is complete. Other evidence-type labels are a publisher aid awaiting source-by-source confirmation.
Consent & relationships
Illustration created using generative AI; not documentary evidence.
In brief
Polyamory describes a relationship orientation, philosophy or practice for different people. It does not require a particular household, number of partners or hierarchy. Some people form interconnected networks; others keep relationships more separate. All still depend on individual consent and workable agreements.
Networks may include dyads, triads, cohabiting groups, solo-polyamorous people or relationships with differing levels of entanglement. A diagram describes connections, not the quality of consent.
No one must date or socialise with a metamour. Kitchen-table and parallel arrangements are preferences rather than moral rankings.
CNM that commonly includes openness to multiple loving or emotionally significant relationships.
Marriage to multiple spouses; its legal and cultural contexts differ and it is not synonymous with polyamory.
A partner's partner with whom one does not necessarily have a romantic or sexual relationship.
A group agreement limiting sexual or romantic connections to members of a defined network.
Multiple relationships can create practical questions about scheduling, caregiving, holidays, money, privacy and public recognition. Explicit discussion helps, but no agreement can remove future change.
New relationship energy may affect attention and judgement. Existing partners deserve communication, while no partner owns another person's time or feelings.
Some networks name primary or nesting relationships; others avoid prescribed hierarchy. Legal marriage, housing, parenting and finances can create practical priority even without labels.
A veto or rule should be evaluated for consent, impact and power rather than assumed ethical or unethical solely from terminology.
Research does not show polyamory is inherently healthier or less healthy than monogamy. Samples often overrepresent white, educated and openly polyamorous participants.
Clinicians should assess the person's actual concern rather than treating relationship structure as pathology, while still screening for coercion or abuse as in any relationship.
Non-graphic examples
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