Open relationship: what it means
A relationship where partners agree they can have sexual or casual connections with other people, often while keeping their own relationship as the main romantic one. The specific rules vary couple to couple.
In practice
Open relationships vary widely: some couples have detailed agreements, others very simple ones. Common topics include what is allowed, sexual health, how much partners share with each other, and how either person can ask to change the agreement. Honesty with new partners about the arrangement matters too.
Consent and safety
Ethical non-monogamy depends on honesty and ongoing consent from everyone affected, not just the people who proposed it. Agreements can be renegotiated, sexual-health conversations matter, and anyone can change their mind. For meeting someone new, see our safety tips.
Related terms
Learn more
Test what you know with the Kink Glossary Quiz: ten random questions on consent, kink and ENM terms, with an explanation after every answer.
Browse all 46 terms in the Sparks kink glossary, or try the playful Freak Scale quiz.
General education for adults 18+, not medical or legal advice. Definitions vary between communities; when in doubt, ask your partner what a word means to them.