Multiromantic: Meaning, Multiple-Gender Attraction, and Identity

For example, someone may experience romantic attraction toward women, men, and nonbinary people. Another person may be romantically attracted to only two or several genders rather than every gender.

The term does not reveal whether the person experiences sexual attraction. Someone can want romance, affection, dating, or partnership without wanting sexual activity.

• a multiromantic person;
• a multiromantic identity;
• multiromantic attraction;
• a multiromantic orientation;
• the multiromantic spectrum.

It may also appear after a linking verb:

• She is multiromantic.
• They identify as multiromantic.
• The character is multiromantic and asexual.

The word may occasionally function as a noun:

• He describes himself as a multiromantic.
• The group welcomes multiromantics and monoromantics.

However, person-centered wording such as multiromantic person often sounds more natural.

• multi-, meaning many or more than one;
• romantic, referring to romantic attraction or relationships.

The prefix emphasizes attraction across multiple genders without specifying exactly which genders are included.

Unlike panromantic or omniromantic, multiromantic does not necessarily mean attraction toward every gender.

The umbrella may include:

• Biromantic: romantic attraction toward more than one gender;
• Panromantic: romantic attraction regardless of gender or toward people of any gender;
• Omniromantic: romantic attraction toward all genders, often with gender remaining meaningful;
• Polyromantic: romantic attraction toward several genders, but not necessarily all;
• Abromantic: romantic attraction that changes or is fluid, sometimes across multiple genders.

Not everyone with one of these identities uses multiromantic. Personal identity labels remain individual choices.

Multiromantic has a similarly broad meaning and may include biromanticism within its umbrella.

The difference is often personal or contextual:

• Someone may use biromantic because of its community history and familiarity.
• Someone may use multiromantic to emphasize attraction across several genders.
• Another person may use both labels.

Neither term requires attraction to be equal across genders.

Panromantic generally means romantic attraction toward people of any gender or regardless of gender.

A multiromantic person may exclude one or more genders from their attraction. A panromantic person generally does not describe gender as a limit on potential romantic attraction.

Every panromantic orientation can broadly be considered multiromantic, but not every multiromantic person is panromantic.

Multiromantic does not require attraction toward all genders. It only indicates that more than one gender may be included.

For example:

• A multiromantic person may be attracted to women and nonbinary people but not men.
• An omniromantic person may be attracted to every gender while experiencing that attraction differently across genders.

Definitions and personal usage may vary.

This makes it closely related to multiromantic. In some contexts, the words may overlap significantly.

Multiromantic may be preferred as a broad umbrella, while polyromantic may function as a more specific personal orientation. The chosen label depends on how an individual understands their attraction.

Multisexual concerns sexual attraction toward multiple genders.

A person may be both multiromantic and multisexual when their romantic and sexual attractions include multiple genders. However, the two patterns do not always match.

For example, someone may be:

• multiromantic and asexual;
• multiromantic and heterosexual;
• multiromantic and homosexual;
• multiromantic and bisexual;
• multiromantic and graysexual.

Romantic orientation and sexual orientation can be described separately.

It may involve wanting to:

• date someone;
• exchange romantic affection;
• become emotionally committed partners;
• hold hands or cuddle romantically;
• celebrate anniversaries;
• build a shared life;
• express romantic love.

People define and experience romance differently. Romantic attraction does not automatically require kissing, sexual activity, marriage, or lifelong partnership.

For example, a person may identify as:

• multiromantic asexual;
• multiromantic heterosexual;
• multiromantic homosexual;
• multiromantic bisexual;
• multiromantic demisexual.

This model can be especially useful for asexual-spectrum and aromantic-spectrum people. However, not everyone needs separate labels for romantic and sexual orientation.

Some people experience attraction as one connected pattern and prefer a single identity term.

A person’s attraction may be:

• stronger toward one gender;
• more frequent toward certain genders;
• emotionally different across genders;
• influenced by personality or circumstances;
• fluid over time;
• difficult to categorize precisely.

Unequal or changing attraction does not make the orientation less genuine.

A multiromantic person remains multiromantic while:

• dating a woman;
• dating a man;
• dating a nonbinary person;
• single;
• married;
• celibate;
• not seeking a relationship;
• involved in a monogamous partnership.

One relationship represents one connection, not the complete range of genders toward whom the person may experience romantic attraction.

• monogamy;
• consensual nonmonogamy;
• marriage;
• casual dating;
• long-term partnership;
• queerplatonic relationships;
• single life;
• no romantic relationship.

Attraction toward multiple genders does not mean needing several partners at once.

Romantic orientation concerns who someone may be romantically attracted to. Relationship structure concerns how they choose to organize their relationships.

Multiromantic and bisexual mean the same thing.
Multiromantic concerns romantic attraction, while bisexual usually concerns sexual attraction.

Multiromantic always means attraction to all genders.
It means attraction to more than one gender. Panromantic or omniromantic more specifically indicates attraction across all genders.

A multiromantic person must date several people.
Orientation does not determine monogamy or relationship structure.

Attraction must be equal across genders.
Its intensity, frequency, and emotional character may vary.

Multiromantic people cannot be asexual.
A person may experience romantic attraction toward several genders while experiencing little or no sexual attraction.

• identify as multiromantic;
• multiromantic identity;
• multiromantic orientation;
• multiromantic attraction;
• multiromantic spectrum;
• multiromantic asexual;
• openly multiromantic;
• multiromantic representation.

• An asexual person experiences romantic attraction toward several genders.
• A multiromantic woman remains multiromantic while dating a man.
• Someone experiences romance toward women and nonbinary people but not men.
• A person uses multiromantic as an umbrella rather than a narrow label.
• A multiromantic person enters a monogamous marriage.
• Someone identifies as both multiromantic and bisexual.
• A fictional character has romantic interests of different genders.
• Partners discuss the difference between romantic attraction and sexual desire.

1. She identifies as multiromantic and asexual.
2. Multiromantic attraction may include people of several genders.
3. His romantic and sexual orientations follow different patterns.
4. Attraction does not need to be equal across genders.
5. A current partner does not erase multiromantic identity.
6. Panromantic and biromantic identities may fall under the multiromantic umbrella.
7. Being multiromantic does not imply wanting multiple partners.
8. The series includes thoughtful multiromantic representation.
9. No one must date several genders to prove their orientation.
10. Respectful partners discuss romantic needs, sexuality, and boundaries openly.

A multiromantic person may have any sexual orientation. They may experience strong sexual attraction, little or no sexual attraction, or attraction toward a different range of genders than their romantic attraction.

Romantic interest never creates sexual consent. A person may want dating, affection, or emotional commitment without wanting sexual contact. Healthy relationships require clear communication about romance, touch, sexual boundaries, relationship agreements, and freely given consent.