Lifestyle Glossary
Plain-English definitions of the terms you'll encounter in the lifestyle community. Written by the TheAdultHub editorial team, based on 20 years of community experience.
Ethical Non-Monogamy (ENM)
In one sentence: Any relationship structure where more than two people are involved, with the full knowledge and consent of everyone concerned.
Ethical non-monogamy is an umbrella term covering swinging, polyamory, open relationships, hotwifing, and other consensual arrangements where romantic or sexual connections exist outside a primary partnership. The 'ethical' distinguishes it from infidelity — everyone involved knows and has agreed.
Read the full guide →Swinging
In one sentence: A practice where couples engage in sexual activities with other people, typically other couples, with mutual knowledge and consent.
Swinging is one of the most common forms of ethical non-monogamy. Couples meet other couples for shared experiences ranging from social evenings and soft swap to full swap. TheAdultHub has 34,000+ registered couple profiles across the UK, Ireland, USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Read the full guide →Soft Swap
In one sentence: A swinging arrangement where couples engage sexually but stop short of full penetrative sex with new partners.
In a soft swap, both couples are present and intimacy is shared — kissing, touching, and some sexual activity — but penetrative sex stays within the original pairing. The exact boundary is set by the couples involved before the encounter. Soft swapping is the most common starting point for couples new to the lifestyle.
Read the full guide →Full Swap
In one sentence: A swinging arrangement where all forms of sexual intimacy, including penetrative sex, are shared between couples.
In a full swap, no sexual acts are restricted between the participating couples — all forms of intimacy are on the table. Both partners are fully consenting and typically present. According to TheAdultHub poll data, 80% of experienced lifestyle members prefer full swap arrangements.
Read the full guide →Hotwifing
In one sentence: A consensual arrangement where one partner has sexual encounters with other people, with the full knowledge and active involvement of their partner.
In hotwifing, the wife or female partner has sexual encounters with other men (known as bulls) while her partner knows about it. The non-participating partner typically derives pleasure from the arrangement — through voyeurism, shared accounts, or psychological excitement. Hotwifing is built on communication and trust.
Read the full guide →Cuckolding
In one sentence: A consensual dynamic where one partner derives pleasure from their partner having sexual encounters with other people.
Cuckolding involves a specific emotional dynamic — the pleasure for the non-participating partner (the cuckold) comes partly from the psychological element of their partner's encounters with others. It often includes a humiliation or submission element. Research suggests the excitement is partly driven by evolutionary psychology around sexual competition. TheAdultHub poll data shows 53% of members find secret hookup dynamics to be their biggest turn-on.
Read the full guide →Unicorn
In one sentence: A single person, typically a woman, who is open to joining an existing couple for a shared sexual or romantic experience.
The term 'unicorn' reflects how rare such individuals were perceived to be — someone who was bisexual, available, attracted to both members of a couple, and willing to participate on the couple's terms. On TheAdultHub, over 21,000 female members are registered, many open to couple connections. Finding the right unicorn takes time and a respectful approach.
Read the full guide →Unicorn Hunting
In one sentence: The practice of couples seeking a single bisexual person to join them, often criticised when the third person's needs are not equally considered.
The term 'unicorn hunting' has a cautionary connotation — it describes couples who approach the search for a third with unrealistic expectations, treating the individual as an accessory rather than a person. The most successful third connections happen when couples approach with respect, clear expectations, and genuine consideration for what the third person wants.
Read the full guide →Bull
In one sentence: A single man who participates in sexual encounters with couples, typically in hotwifing or cuckolding dynamics.
A bull is usually confident, understands the lifestyle community, and knows his role within the couple's arrangement. The best bulls communicate clearly, respect the couple's rules, and do not try to complicate or extend the arrangement beyond what was agreed. TheAdultHub has over 207,000 single male members registered.
Read the full guide →DADT (Don't Ask Don't Tell)
In one sentence: A consensual arrangement where both partners agree to pursue outside connections without sharing specific details.
DADT is a form of open relationship where both parties have agreed that each can explore independently without reporting the specifics back. The agreement is what makes it ethical — both partners know the arrangement exists. The specific details of individual encounters are kept private by mutual consent.
Read the full guide →Open Relationship
In one sentence: A relationship where both partners agree that one or both may pursue romantic or sexual connections outside the partnership.
Open relationships vary widely in their structure — some couples are fully independent (DADT style), others share details, others have specific rules about who they can see and when. Unlike swinging, open relationships often include the possibility of emotional connections forming with other partners.
Read the full guide →Polyamory
In one sentence: The practice of having multiple romantic relationships simultaneously, with the full knowledge and consent of all partners involved.
Polyamory differs from swinging in that it typically involves emotional depth alongside physical connection — multiple loving relationships rather than primarily recreational sexual encounters. Polyamorous relationships can take many forms: hierarchical (primary and secondary partners), relationship anarchism, or polycules (networks of interconnected relationships).
Read the full guide →Compersion
In one sentence: The feeling of joy or pleasure from witnessing a partner's happiness in a connection with another person.
Compersion is often described as the opposite of jealousy — instead of feeling threatened by a partner's other connections, you feel genuine pleasure from their enjoyment. It is particularly common in polyamorous and hotwifing dynamics, and is often cited as one of the most surprising positive aspects of ethical non-monogamy for newcomers.
Read the full guide →Lifestyle
In one sentence: A community term for people who participate in consensual non-monogamy, particularly swinging and partner-sharing.
Within the adult dating community, 'the lifestyle' or 'lifestyle member' specifically refers to the swinging and ENM community — it distinguishes participants from vanilla (monogamous) dating contexts. Being 'in the lifestyle' implies experience with and participation in consensual non-monogamy.
Read the full guide →Swingers Club
In one sentence: A licensed venue where adults meet for consensual sexual and social encounters with other lifestyle members.
Swingers clubs are purpose-built or converted venues with social areas, bars, and private or semi-private rooms. Reputable clubs enforce strict consent rules, provide safer sex supplies, and employ staff. The typical club night starts as a social gathering before becoming more sexually charged as the evening progresses. Most clubs do not allow single men without prior arrangement.
Read the full guide →House Party
In one sentence: A private lifestyle party hosted in someone's home, typically invite-only and smaller than club nights.
House parties are a popular alternative to swingers clubs — typically smaller (10-30 people), more intimate, and invite-only. The host controls the guest list, usually screening through verified profiles. House parties on TheAdultHub can be created and managed through the platform's event tools, with guest list approval before the address is shared.
Read the full guide →Verified Profile
In one sentence: A profile that has been reviewed and confirmed as genuine by the TheAdultHub moderation team.
Every profile on TheAdultHub goes through manual admin validation before going live — no automated approvals. Members can additionally complete free ID verification for a visible blue tick badge, confirming their identity without sharing sensitive documents publicly. Verified profiles are statistically more trusted and receive more responses.
Read the full guide →ID Verification
In one sentence: An optional process on TheAdultHub where members confirm their identity, receiving a visible blue tick badge.
ID verification is free for all TheAdultHub members regardless of tier. Once verified, a blue tick appears on the member's profile in search results and messages. Verification confirms the member is a real person — it does not publicly disclose their legal identity. The process uses secure third-party verification without requiring members to share sensitive documents with other users.
Read the full guide →Hall Pass
In one sentence: A temporary, consensual agreement that allows one partner to explore outside the relationship independently.
A hall pass is a structured arrangement — both partners agree that one of them may pursue an outside encounter for a defined period or occasion (often while one partner is travelling). Clear terms are agreed in advance: what is and is not included, and whether details will be shared afterwards. Without the prior agreement, it is not a hall pass.
Read the full guide →FWB (Friends with Benefits)
In one sentence: An arrangement where two people who are friends also engage in sexual activity without a committed romantic relationship.
Friends with benefits differs from the lifestyle in that it typically involves two people who are not in a primary relationship together, rather than a couple opening their relationship to others. It can exist within or outside an ENM framework depending on the individuals involved and any agreements they have with other partners.
Read the full guide →Find the community these terms describe.
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