Consensual Non-Monogamy
Consensual non-monogamy (CNM) is an umbrella term for relationships in which everyone agrees that one or more partners may have romantic, intimate, or sexual relationships with other people. The exact agreement can vary: some relationships allow outside sexual connections but not romantic ones, while others include multiple romantic partners or a closed relationship between three or more people.
Common forms of CNM include:
- Polyamory: Having or being open to multiple romantic or sexual relationships at the same time.
- Open Relationships: A relationship that allows one or both partners to have sexual or romantic connections with others.
- Swinging: Couples having sexual experiences with other people, often together.
- Monogamish Relationships: Mostly monogamous relationships that allow limited activity with others.
- Polyfidelity: A closed relationship involving three or more people who agree not to pursue partners outside the group.
- Hotwife, Hothusband, Cuckold, and Stag/Vixen Dynamics: Arrangements in which one partner has sexual experiences with others with their partner’s knowledge and agreement.
These categories can overlap, and people may create agreements that do not fit neatly into any one label.
Origins of the Term
People have practiced many forms of non-monogamy throughout history, but consensual non-monogamy is a relatively recent umbrella term. There is no known single person who coined it, but researchers were using the term by the early 2010s to group together relationship styles such as polyamory, swinging, and open relationships.
CNM is now often preferred over ethical non-monogamy in research and clinical writing because consensual describes a clear requirement, while people may disagree about what makes a relationship “ethical.” However, Google Search data shows that public searches for the term remained extremely low until around 2020 and only increased sharply in 2025. This suggests that while CNM is not a newly invented term, it has only recently become common outside academic and professional discussions.
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