Dating Guide & Glossary

Modern dating terms and relationship formats, explained

Modern dating has its own vocabulary — and not everyone uses it the same way. Here you'll find plain-language guides to the terms people actually use, the relationship formats behind them, and how to find what you're looking for on Amurest.

Dating terms

Body Count Meaning

Body count is the number of people someone has slept with. The guide covers what actually counts, what the average looks like, and why the number says less about a person than people assume.

Booty Call

A booty call is a late, last-minute invitation to hook up, usually by text. The guide covers what it means and the unwritten etiquette that keeps it respectful on both sides.

Cuffing Season

Cuffing season is the stretch of autumn and winter when singles look for someone to pair up with until spring. The guide covers when it starts and ends, and how to enjoy it on your own terms.

Dating Slang Glossary

The words people use in modern dating, from ghosting and breadcrumbing to talking stages and soft launches. Every term comes with a short, plain-language definition.

Kink List

A kink list is a checklist of sexual interests you want to try, are curious about, or rule out. The guide explains kink vs fetish and how to use a list to talk with a partner without pressure.

Polycule

A polycule is the network of people connected through polyamorous relationships. The guide covers the shapes polycules actually take and what keeps one working.

Praise Kink

A praise kink is arousal from compliments and affirmation during intimacy. The guide covers examples, phrases that work, and how to explore it safely.

Situationship

A situationship is a connection that is more than casual but never defined as a relationship. The guide covers the signs you are in one and how to decide what to do next.

Sneaky Link

A sneaky link is someone you hook up with on the down-low, away from friends and social media. The guide covers where the phrase came from, how it differs from FWB and a booty call, and where privacy turns into lying.

Solo Poly

Solo poly means having several relationships while staying your own primary partner, without merging lives with anyone. The guide covers how it works and who it suits.

Throuple

A throuple is a committed relationship between three people. The guide covers how three-person relationships form and what keeps one working.

Unicorn Dating

A unicorn is a bisexual person who dates a couple together. The guide covers how unicorn dating works and how to keep it fair for everyone involved.

Relationship formats

Casual Dating

Casual dating means seeing someone without committing to an exclusive relationship. The guide covers how to set expectations so they match reality.

Casual Sex 101

Casual sex is sex without a romantic relationship attached. The guide covers how to enjoy it without shame or mixed signals, from consent to clear communication.

Fuck buddies

Fuck buddies are people who have sex regularly without dating each other. The guide covers what the arrangement really means, how to find one, and why honesty keeps it working.

Hookup Culture

Hookup culture is the social norm of casual sex without commitment. The guide covers where it came from, how it works today, and whether it suits you.

No Strings Attached Dating

NSA, or no strings attached, is dating or sex without relationship obligations. The guide covers how NSA arrangements work and why clarity beats assumptions.

One night stand

A one night stand is a single sexual encounter with no plan to meet again. The guide covers how to find one and what to expect.

Open Marriage

An open marriage is a marriage where both partners agree to see other people. The guide covers the rules couples set and what it looks like in practice.

Open Relationships & ENM

Ethical non-monogamy (ENM) is any relationship where partners openly agree to see other people. The guide explains open relationships and their variations without the jargon.

Swinging

Swinging is when committed couples have sex with other couples or singles, together and by agreement. The guide covers everything from soft swinging to full swap.