Unicorn: what it means
Usually a single person, often a bisexual woman, who dates or plays with an existing couple. “Unicorn hunting” is when a couple searches for one, and it is often criticized when the couple expects the third person to fit rules they had no say in. Respectful couples treat a third as a full person with their own needs and limits.
Also called: unicorn hunting.
In practice
If you are a couple looking for a third, the respectful approach is to treat them as a full person: their wants, limits and feelings count equally, and the rules are agreed together, not handed over. If you are the third, you are allowed to set your own terms or walk away.
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
This term is one of the questions in the Kink Glossary Quiz. Ten random questions, an explanation after every answer, and a 🎓 Glossary Grad badge for members who score 8 or more.
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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.