Fwb vs affair

[Ginger10]

I'm rather new here and I'm curious about the difference between the fwb and affair.

[central]

An affair is a clandestine sexual relationship between a married person and another person, without the knowledge or consent of the spouse(s).  Some people would also call an inappropriate emotional connection an affair.

A FWB is a consensual, primarily sexual relationship between two single people (if either is married, it is an affair unless the married person's spouse has given informed consent).  The "friend" part of the label is interpreted very loosely - some FWBs actually are friends, but many are just acquaintances.

[BaileyB]

FWB - two single people, having sex with no expectations other than great sex

Affair - one or both partners is married or otherwise committed to another person.

Many people who are engaged in an affair like to call it “friends with benefits” because it’s more socially acceptable. 

But the thing is - married people can’t date. Single people date. Single people are free to have sex with whomever they wish. When married people have sex with another individual outside their marriage - unless their spouse is aware and has consented - they are betraying the one person they vowed to love and honour above all others…

[stillafool]

FWB - a nonexclusive sexual relationship

Affair - two people hiding the fact that one or both of them are married and having sex with another person in secret.

[Veronica85]

An affair can be a married person and a single person. It’s an affair from the married person’s perspective 

Edited October 19, 2021 by Veronica85