Standard Lemma guide

polycule

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈpɒ.lɪ.kjuːl/
  • General-American: /ˈpɑ.li.kjul/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • General-American: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɒlɪkjuːl

1

noun

Meaning 1

A polyamorous group of individuals connected by their overlapping romantic, sexual, or platonic relationships.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Our polycule doubled in size when my spouse started seeing Boris, whose husband has six other partners.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: constellation, pod

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *pleh1- Proto-Indo-European *polh1ús Ancient Greek πολῠ́ς (polŭ́s)lbor. English poly- Proto-Indo-European *h3emh3-der. Proto-Italic *amāō Latin amō Proto-Indo-European *-os Proto-Indo-European *-s Proto-Indo-European *-ōs Proto-Italic *-ōs Latin -or Latin amor Proto-Indo-European *-(i)yós Proto-Italic *-ijos Proto-Italic *-ios Old Latin -ios Latin -ius Latin -ia Old French -ieder. Middle English -ie Middle English -y English -y English polyamory Latin mōlēs Proto-Indo-European *-lós Proto-Indo-European *-elós Proto-Italic *-elos Proto-Italic *-kelos Latin -cula New Latin moleculalbor. French moléculebor. English molecule blend English polycule Blend of polyamory + molecule. First attested in the 2010s.

Across languages

Translations

11 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Dutch: polycuul — polyamorous group
  • Esperanto: amkonstelacio — polyamorous group
  • Finnish: moniskunta — polyamorous group
  • Finnish: polykuvio — polyamorous group
  • Georgian: პოლიკულა (ṗoliḳula) — polyamorous group
  • German: Polykül — polyamorous group
  • Hebrew: פוליקולה (políkula) — polyamorous group
  • Portuguese: polícula — polyamorous group
  • Portuguese: polículo — polyamorous group
  • Spanish: polícula — polyamorous group
  • Spanish: polículo — polyamorous group