compersion

American  

[kuhm-per-zhuhn, -shuhn] / kəmˈpɛr ʒən, -ʃən /

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.

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Etymology

Origin of compersion

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

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 • Feb. 22, 2021

We feel genuine compersion when each of us finds happiness with another partner.

From Slate • Feb. 12, 2020

There’s this lovely concept called compersion: It’s a bit like the opposite of schadenfreude.

From Slate • May 16, 2019

It's a concept called "compersion," which means the joy felt when a partner discovers love outside of you.

From Scientific American • Feb. 14, 2013