Metamour - meaning and definition
Alsometapartner's partnerpartner's other partner
Definition
Your partner's other partner, with whom you are not romantically involved yourself.
At a glance
- Your partner's other partner.
- You are not romantically involved with your metamour yourself.
- Metamours may be close friends or keep a polite distance.
- How much metamours interact often marks kitchen-table versus parallel polyamory.
In detail
Metamour is a polyamorous term built from the Greek prefix "meta" and the French word for love. If Alex dates both Sam and Jordan, then Sam and Jordan are each other's metamours.
Relationships between metamours range from close friendship to polite distance. How much contact metamours have is often a key difference between kitchen-table and parallel polyamory.
In a sentence
- My metamour and I are going to the same concert, so we'll probably grab a drink.
- I haven't met my metamour yet, but my partner says we'd get along.
Where the word comes from
Built from the Greek prefix meta (beyond) and the French amour (love). It became a standard word in polyamorous communities as they grew in the 1990s and 2000s.
Common questions
Do I have to be friends with my metamour?
No. Some people become close, others prefer limited contact. Respect and honesty matter more than friendship, and preferences can be talked through with everyone involved.