Often a term used among polyamorous (openly nonmonogamous) people. Often called the antonym of jealousy. Seeing your partner/s get a crush on, hook up with, fall in love with, or in any other way romantically bond with other people, and feeling deep happiness, joy, and love for them.
"You're in love with Parker, don't you feel jealous that he's started dating Emily?"
"Actually, no, I feel compersion. She's really cool. He lights up to see her. When I see him that happy, I actually feel happy for him, not jealous."
"Actually, no, I feel compersion. She's really cool. He lights up to see her. When I see him that happy, I actually feel happy for him, not jealous."
by nomadak March 11, 2010
Taking pleasure or joy in the action of your partner engaging in a similar romantic or sexual relationship with another person.
See also polyamory
See also polyamory
The opposite of jealousy is compersion.
by sparklejess December 31, 2004
The act of living vicariously though one of your own girl/boyfriends because they chose to abandon you and spend quality-time with someone else. It is widely believed "compersion" is a self-preservation technique developed by individuals that self-identify as polyamorous.
Jack has developed a keen sense of compersion to maintain his sanity after his girlfriend Jill, went to shag her other boyfriend John.
by Karbowiak October 10, 2009
A feeling of joy when a loved one invests in and takes pleasure from another romantic or sexual relationship.
Commentary: Compersion can be thought of as the opposite of "jealousy;" it is a positive emotional reaction to a loved one's other relationship. The term was coined by the Kerista Commune. It differs from candaulism in that compersion does not specifically refer to joy regarding the sexual activity of one's partner, but refers instead to joy at the relationship with another romantic and/or sexual partner. It is analagous to the feeling of joy a parent feels when their children marry or that best friends feel for each other when they are happy in a romantic relationship.
Commentary: Compersion can be thought of as the opposite of "jealousy;" it is a positive emotional reaction to a loved one's other relationship. The term was coined by the Kerista Commune. It differs from candaulism in that compersion does not specifically refer to joy regarding the sexual activity of one's partner, but refers instead to joy at the relationship with another romantic and/or sexual partner. It is analagous to the feeling of joy a parent feels when their children marry or that best friends feel for each other when they are happy in a romantic relationship.
I feel compersion when I see my husband come home happy from spending time with his girlfriend. His happiness brings me happiness
by Joreth April 09, 2010
Love is multiplicative, compersion in nature. Love in its whole is much greater than the sum of the discrete pairings.
by HoneyBunsofSteel October 25, 2020
I feel compersion when I see a toddler happy; I don't know if I love her, but I do indeed feel compersion for her.
by Cheeku Naman April 04, 2019
A tendecy to become aroused instead of jealous when one's partner has sex with another person or a third partner; also the person having such interest.
by missioncontrol August 03, 2008