monogamish

English

Etymology

Blend of monogamous +‎ -ish. Coined by American sex advice columnist and gay rights campaigner Dan Savage in 2011, although earlier coinages seem to have existed and not become popularized.

Adjective

monogamish (not comparable)

1. Mostly monogamous, but allowing for occasional infidelities.
   • 2011 July 20, Dan Savage, “Savage Love: Monogamish”, in The Stranger‎^[1], retrieved 2013-05-05:

     So I've got a new word to describe relationships like yours, mine, and your mom's, IIC: "monogamish." We're mostly monogamous, not swingers, not actively looking. Monogamish.

   • 2011 June 30, Dan Savage, “Married, With Infidelities”, in The New York Times‎^[2], retrieved 2013-05-05:

     In their own marriage, Savage and Miller practice being what he calls “monogamish,” allowing occasional infidelities, which they are honest about. Miller was initially opposed to the idea.

   • 2012, Charlotte J. Patterson, Ph.D., Anthony R. D'Augelli, Ph.D., Handbook of Psychology and Sexual Orientation‎^[3], →ISBN, page 25:

     In 2008, Dr. Sarit A. Golub, a member of our research group, coined the term “monogamish” to describe situations such as this, in which the relationship is neither monogamous nor open, but closer to monogamy than not, and our recent research has confirmed this unique relationship arrangement and suggests gay men in monogamish relationships report low levels of sexual risk and high levels or relationship satisfaction (Parsons et al, in press).

   • 2013 April 24, Two Senses, “Two Sense: Is My Fiancé Lying?”, in 7x7SF‎^[4], retrieved 2013-05-05:

     Assuming he denies this story, use it as a jumping-off point to discuss the difference between monogamy and monogamish.