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Sexual attraction is a form of physical response or a desire for sexual interaction with a particular individual. Many people experience sexual attraction. Many people do not experience sexual attraction.  

Romantic attraction is a form of emotional response people feel when they desire a romantic relationship with someone. Many people experience romantic attraction. Many people do not experience romantic attraction.  

Sexual orientation or sexuality refers to a person's sexual attractions (or lack thereof) toward other people. It is often defined in terms of what genders people are sexually attracted to.  

Romantic orientation is related to a person's romantic attractions or desires (or lack thereof) toward other people. It is often defined in terms of what genders people are romantically attracted to.  

Asexuality is a sexual orientation, defined broadly as is the lack of sexual attraction or the lack of interest in and desire for sex. Just like other sexual orientations, asexuality is an umbrella term and exists on a spectrum. Many asexual folks describe themselves as “ace.” Ace identity may involve forms of attraction that are not necessarily sexual, such as romantic, sensual, or aesthetic attraction. Within the ace community, there are many ways to identify. Some common terms include:  

• Aceflux: People with a fluctuating orientation, and that orientation is always within the asexual spectrum. This includes people with an orientation that fluctuates between no attraction, some attraction, and a lot of attraction 
• Demisexual: People who only experience sexual attraction once they form a strong emotional connection with another person  
• Grey-Ace: People who identify somewhere between allosexual and asexual  

Aromanticism is a romantic orientation broadly defined as a lack of romantic attraction or lack of interest in romantic relationships. Many aromantic folks call themselves “aro.” Aro identity may involve forms of attraction that are not necessarily romantic, or interests in relationships that are intimate in other ways. There is no singular experience of aromanticism. Some common terms include:  

• Aroflux: People who identify as aroflux may experience their romantic orientation as fluctuating between experiencing and not experiencing romantic attraction, or that attraction is being experienced to alternating or changing degrees. 
• Demiromantic: describes people who do not experience romantic attraction until they have formed a deep emotional connection with someone 
• Grayromantic: People who feel low amounts of romantic attraction, rarely feel romantic attraction, only feel romantic attraction under specific circumstances, or are not sure if they experience romantic attraction. 

A-spec or the a-spectrum is an umbrella term that encompasses both the asexual and aromantic spectrums and the many sexual and romantic orientations that are part of them. 

Aromantic asexual or aroace is an umbrella term for people who feel low or no sexual or romantic attraction to others.  

Allosexual is an umbrella term for people who are not asexual. Allosexual people regularly experience sexual attraction to others, whether or not they engage in sexual activity. It is possible to be allosexual but not alloromantic and vice versa. This term is not gender-specific and is typically used as a descriptor rather than a label that people identify as. 

Alloromantic is an umbrella term for people who experience romantic attraction or are not on the aromantic spectrum. Alloromantic people regularly experience romantic attraction to other people. The term is not gender-specific. It is possible to be alloromantic but not allosexual, and vice versa 

Heterosexuality is an orientation where an individual is only attracted to people of a gender different than their own.  

Ethical non-monogamy or consensual non-monogamy is the umbrella term for all forms of structures that oppose the single-lover long-term committed relationship script. Under the ENM umbrella falls different structures. ENM requires the informed consent and agreement of everyone involved. 

Polyamory (Polyam) simply means “many love”. This term is used to describe folks who have more than one sexual or romantic relationship. Polyam is characterized by wanting to sustain multiple relationships. Polyam can be used to describe many kinds of connections for folks of many different orientations. A polycule is the group that includes a network of partners and metamours (your partner’s partner who isn’t also your partner). Polycules can be closed or open and can involve anyone who is participating in a relationship with one or more of the members.  

Hierarchical polaym: Sometimes partners choose to have hierarchies within their polycule, which determines who has access to the most time, resources, and decision making.  Sometimes this means that some relationships are primary, meaning that they are more serious or that partners have more long-term commitments like sharing housing, children, pets, finances, etc. Secondary relationships are typically those who are allocated less time and resources.  

Non-hierarchical polyam means all people have equal decision-making power and can decide democratically on time and resource allocation 

Monogamy is commonly understood relationship structure, in which partners are sexually and romantically exclusive.  

Swinging is couples who play together with others. This can involve arrangements like swapping partners with another couple, participating in group sex, or having threesomes. The focus is often on sexual experiences rather than maintaining multiple relationships. 

Open relationships tend to involve a primary couple who opened their relationship to allow for other sexual or intimate partnerships.  

Queerplatonic relationships are intimate relationships between significant others whose relationship does not fit neatly into the categories of romantic or non-romantic. Queerplantonic relationships are meaningful relationships outside of romantic or sexual partnerships that are generally considered more intimate and committed than friendship.