compersion

[ kuhm-per-zhuhn, -shuhn ]

noun

1. (especially among polyamorous people) a feeling of happiness caused by another person's happiness, especially by seeing one's romantic or sexual partner interacting positively with another one of their partners:

   Seeing them giggle like teenagers as they came in from a date filled me with compersion.

Word History and Origins

Origin of compersion¹

Coined in 1990–95 by the members of Kerista, a now-defunct polyamorous community in San Francisco; of unclear origin; perhaps formed (using com- ( def ) ) as the opposite of dispersion ( def ), or perhaps a blend of compassion ( def ) and conversion ( def )

Example Sentences

If you took the word “compersion” — which is all about loving other people having love and pleasure — and put it into a kaleidoscope, and then took the color hot pink.

From New York Times

And while I am a little envious of his physique and athleticism in bed, the feeling of compersion when I see her with him is perhaps the most sexually stimulating experience since seeing her with another man for the first time, and part of me would really like that night after night.

From Slate

A "metamour" refers to your partner's partner, and "compersion" refers to a sense of happiness you feel for a partner who is happy with another partner.

From Salon

But the fact we have the word “compersion” – for the joyful sensation associated with seeing your partner enjoying a happy romantic or sexual connection with someone else – suggests that, in fact, some people can operate with only minimal or passing feelings of jealousy.

From The Guardian

Rich: His compersion is flowing.

From Slate