Polycule

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In polyamory, a polycule is a group of individuals involved in romantic relationships that connect all the members in the group. [1] [2] It is not necessary for every individual of the polycule to be in a relationship with every other individual, and also not common. [3] [4] The most simple and arguably most common polycule structure is a V shaped structure, a three-person polycule where one person is dating the two others, but the two others are not dating one another.

Contents

Etymology

Derived as an analog to the way that atomic bonds connect the atoms in a molecule, the word is a portmanteau of polyamory and molecule .

The origin of the term is not clear, but it seems to have entered the popular lexicon starting in the early 2010s. [1] By the 2020s, discussions of polycules had entered the mainstream media. [5] [6]

Terms

While polycules can take on many different configurations, there are a few common structures and terms. [2]

Some of these structures are tileable (e.g. a V that one of the branches is in another V structure)

References

  1. 1 2 Bergner, Interviews by Daniel (2024-04-15). "Lessons From a 20-Person Polycule". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2024-07-21.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Dumais, Eliza; Engle, Gigi (2024-01-18). "Sure, We'll Tell You About Polycules". Cosmopolitan. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
  3. Bote, Joshua. "What you need to know about polyamory – including throuples – but were too afraid to ask". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
  4. Angelini, Jillian (2024-04-09). "Polycules Are Common In Ethical Non-Monogamy – Here's What They Are". Women's Health. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
  5. Davis, Allison P. (2024-01-16). "What Does a Polycule Actually Look Like?". The Cut. Retrieved 2024-08-09.
  6. "Sure, We'll Tell You About Polycules". Cosmopolitan. 2024-01-18. Retrieved 2024-08-09.
  7. 1 2 Bote, Joshua (2020-02-14). "What you need to know about polyamory – including throuples – but were too afraid to ask". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
  8. Ivey, Madilyn (2021-04-09). "Schitt's Creek: 7 Relationships That Fans Knew Were Doomed From The Start". Screen Rant. Retrieved 2025-04-16.
  9. Holland, Becca (2023-09-02). "'Riverdale's Finale Quad Is the Right Way to Handle a Ship Endgame Debate". Collider. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
  10. Lang, Cady (2024-06-13). "Even Bridgerton Is Flirting With Polyamory". TIME. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
  11. 1 2 Mayeda, Olivia Cruz (2024-05-02). "'Challengers' Has Ignited 'Throuple' Discourse – One Polyamorous Couple Weighs In". www.kqed.org. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
  12. Loyarte, Julián Jorge Fernández (2025-06-07). "8 Best Deltarune Characters, Ranked". Game Rant. Retrieved 2025-07-06.

See also