Polyamory, often abbreviated ‘poly’, is sometimes described as consensual, ethical, or responsible non-monogamy. The word is occasionally (in our opinion, incorrectly) used more broadly to refer to any sexual or romantic relationships that are not sexually exclusive, though there is disagreement on how broadly it applies; an emphasis on ethics, honesty, and transparency all around is widely regarded as the crucial defining characteristic
Pretty straightforward, yes?
Heh.
People have the oddest ideas about polyamory. The following links discuss some of them.
-- South African Polyamory http://www.polyamory.co.za