Lover

Lover, as a relationship status, usually refers to someone with whom a person shares a romantic and/or sexual connection, often marked by intimacy and affection. It is not necessarily a formal or committed relationship.

A lover might be a consistent play partner, a romantic companion, or someone with whom the connection is emotional, physical, or both. The term is intentionally broad and can overlap with other roles (like Dominant, submissive, or friend).

Generally the term is used more loosely by people that are polyamorous, but the term was originally used to refer to a sexual relationship that wasn't a primary relationship. The word is often used to describe a partner out-side of marriage (an affair) in a monogamous relationship.

In kink communities, this relationship status often implies that the relationship is either happening at the same time as other relationships in the form of ethical non monogamy or isn't following traditional relationship patterns.