All entries

Every entry in datingglossary, grouped by section, each card carrying the headword, whether the word is current or rising, and the date the page was last updated. Use this page when you want to see the whole dictionary at once rather than one section of it.

Open6

Ccurrent
compersion
Compersion means pleasure at a partner's happiness with someone else. The definition, where the word came from, and the terms it gets confused with.
Read the entryUpdated Sep 2026
Ecurrent
ENM
ENM meaning in dating: what ethical non-monogamy covers, where the abbreviation came from, and how it differs from open, poly and swinging.
Read the entryUpdated Sep 2026
Mcurrent
monogamish
Monogamish means a mostly monogamous couple with narrow agreed exceptions. Definition, documented origin, and what it is not. Checked 2026-08-26.
Read the entryUpdated Sep 2026
Mcurrent
monogamy
Monogamy meaning, defined plainly: one partner at a time, by agreement. Origin of the word, how it differs from exclusivity, and what it does not cover.
Read the entryUpdated Sep 2026
Pcurrent
polyamory
Polyamory meaning, defined plainly: multiple romantic relationships with everyone's knowledge, why it sits inside ENM, and what the word does not cover.
Read the entryUpdated Sep 2026
Tcurrent
throuple
Throuple meaning: a romantic relationship between three people who are all involved with each other. How it differs from a triad, a vee and polyamory.
Read the entryUpdated Sep 2026

Feelings6

Ccurrent
codependency
Codependency meaning in plain terms: where the word came from, how it drifted from addiction literature into everyday dating talk, and what it does not mean.
Read the entryUpdated Sep 2026
Ecurrent
enmeshment
Enmeshment meaning in plain terms: where the word came from, how it is used, what it is confused with, and what it does not mean. Checked August 2026.
Read the entryUpdated Sep 2026
Icurrent
infatuation
Infatuation meaning in plain terms: the definition, where the word came from, infatuation vs love, look-alike terms, and what it does not mean.
Read the entryUpdated Sep 2026
Lrising
limerence
Limerence meaning, defined plainly: an involuntary state of obsessive romantic longing named by psychologist Dorothy Tennov. Origin, look-alikes, limits.
Read the entryUpdated Sep 2026
Nrising
NRE
New relationship energy meaning, defined plainly: the euphoric early-stage rush named in polyamorous communities. NRE origin, look-alikes, and what it is not.
Read the entryUpdated Sep 2026
Prising
parasocial relationship
Parasocial relationship meaning: a one-sided bond with someone who does not know you exist. Origin in mid-1950s media research, look-alikes, and limits.
Read the entryUpdated Sep 2026

App-era6

Bcurrent
breadcrumbing
Breadcrumbing meaning in plain terms: where the dating word came from, how it is used, what it is confused with, and what it does not mean. Checked August 2026.
Read the entryUpdated Sep 2026
Ccurrent
catfishing
Catfishing meaning, defined plainly: pretending to be someone else online, where the word came from, what it is confused with, and what it does not cover.
Read the entryUpdated Sep 2026
Ccurrent
cushioning
Cushioning meaning in plain terms: where the dating word came from, how it is used, what it is confused with, and what it does not mean. Checked August 2026.
Read the entryUpdated Sep 2026
Mcurrent
micro-cheating
Micro cheating meaning in plain terms: what the word covers, where it came from, why its boundary is disputed, and what it does not mean. Checked August 2026.
Read the entryUpdated Sep 2026
Mcurrent
monkey barring
Monkey barring meaning in dating: the term's origin, how it differs from monkey branching and cushioning, and what it does not mean. Checked August 2026.
Read the entryUpdated Sep 2026
Scurrent
stashing
Stashing meaning in plain terms: what the dating word describes, where it came from, what it is confused with, and what it does not mean. Checked August 2026.
Read the entryUpdated Sep 2026

Identity6

Acurrent
aromantic
Aromantic meaning, defined plainly: people who experience little or no romantic attraction. Origin, the aromantic spectrum, look-alike terms and limits.
Read the entryUpdated Sep 2026
Acurrent
asexual
Asexual meaning, put plainly: a self-chosen label for people who feel little or no sexual attraction. Ace spectrum, origin, look-alikes, and limits.
Read the entryUpdated Sep 2026
Brising
bicurious
Bicurious meaning, defined plainly: curiosity about attraction to a gender someone has not pursued, without claiming a settled bisexual identity.
Read the entryUpdated Sep 2026
Dcurrent
demisexual
Demisexual meaning, defined plainly: sexual attraction felt only after a strong emotional bond forms. Origin on the AVEN forums, look-alike terms, limits.
Read the entryUpdated Sep 2026
Pcurrent
pansexual
Pansexual meaning, put plainly: attraction regardless of gender, how the word differs from bisexual, where it came from, and what it does not claim.
Read the entryUpdated Sep 2026
Scurrent
sapiosexual
Sapiosexual meaning, defined plainly: a self-description for people who say intelligence is what attracts them. Origin, look-alikes, why it is contested.
Read the entryUpdated Sep 2026

Status6

Ccurrent
courting
Courting meaning, defined plainly: dating with a stated end goal. Where the word came from, how courting differs from dating, and what it does not promise.
Read the entryUpdated Sep 2026
Dcurrent
DTR
DTR meaning, defined plainly: define the relationship. What the abbreviation covers, where it came from, and what those three letters mean outside dating.
Read the entryUpdated Sep 2026
Ecurrent
exclusive
What does exclusive mean in dating: two people agreeing to see only each other. Origin of the usage, how it differs from official, and what it does not cover.
Read the entryUpdated Sep 2026
Hcurrent
hard launch
Hard launch meaning: the public, unambiguous reveal of a relationship online. Definition, origin, confusable terms, and limits. Checked 2026-08-26.
Read the entryUpdated Sep 2026
Lcurrent
lavender marriage
Lavender marriage meaning, defined plainly: a marriage that presents as straight while at least one spouse is not. Origin, look-alike terms, and limits.
Read the entryUpdated Sep 2026
Pcurrent
platonic
Platonic meaning in plain terms: the definition, where the word came from, how a platonic relationship differs from look-alike terms, and what it does not mean.
Read the entryUpdated Sep 2026

Slang6

Brising
banksying
Banksying meaning in dating: the quietly prepared breakup, where the word came from, how it differs from a slow fade. Checked August 2026.
Read the entryUpdated Sep 2026
Bcurrent
body count
Body count meaning in dating slang: the number of sexual partners someone has had. Where the phrase came from, what it excludes, and why it is contested.
Read the entryUpdated Sep 2026
Drising
delulu
Delulu meaning in dating: the K-pop fandom origin, how it differs from delusional and manifesting, and what it does not mean. Checked August 2026.
Read the entryUpdated Sep 2026
Tcurrent
the ick
Ick meaning in dating: the sudden turn-off, where the phrase came from, how it differs from a red flag or a dealbreaker. Checked August 2026.
Read the entryUpdated Sep 2026
Scurrent
sneaky link
Sneaky link meaning in dating slang: the definition, where the phrase came from, how it differs from a booty call or FWB, and what it does not mean.
Read the entryUpdated Sep 2026
Tcurrent
thirst trap
Thirst trap meaning in plain terms: what the phrase names, where it came from, how it differs from a hard launch or a catfish. Checked August 2026.
Read the entryUpdated Sep 2026

Sections are the way in if you know what you are looking for; this page is the way in if you do not, and the A–Z index is the way in if you already have the word. The date on each card is when the page was last updated; the month its sources were last gone over is printed on the entry itself. Every figure this site prints names its publisher and the year — those are listed on the statistics page.