In texting and on social media, you may come across the acronym FWB. The FWB meaning that usually applies is “friends with benefits,” a relationship with sexual relations but without a romantic commitment. Read on to discover the FWB meaning, as well as how friends-with-benefits work, and its difference from other casual relationships.
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What Does FWB Mean?
FWB is short for “friends with benefits.” This means two acquaintances fulfill their sexual needs. However, they are not dating or in a relationship.
This kind of relationship has been around practically forever. However, many people credit the singer Alanis Morissette with the term “friends with benefits” itself. In “Head Over Feet,” she sings, “You’re my best friend…best friend with benefits.”
Is FWB Different from a Situationship?
FWB is similar to but not the same as a situationship, booty call, or hookup. A situationship is somewhere between FWB and officially being a couple. There is an emotional connection, but they just haven’t clearly defined what their relationship is.
The other types of relationships are far more casual. A booty call is an invitation for sex only. It can be between people who know each other, but it’s often between strangers through apps like Tinder. On the other hand, hooking up implies a single encounter or a one-night stand.
Example sentences:
- I thought FWB only happens in movies!
- Most people on dating apps are looking for an FWB relationship.
- We’re not dating; we’re just FWB.
- For your peace of mind, don’t get into an FWB relationship.
- Our fwb relationship was awkward at first, but it’s cool now.
- We started out as FWB but ended up falling in love.
- My FWB was fun while it lasted, but then he got feelings for me.
- We’re fwb, no marriage plans lol.
Ground Rules of an FWB Relationship
A FWB relationship can be rewarding, but it can also be complicated. There are some near-universal rules for making this friends-with-benefits arrangement work.
No Feelings
FWB relationships involve friendship that includes occasional casual sex. Developing feelings is off-limits if you want a friends-with-benefits relationship.
Share Your Feelings
That said, people do develop feelings. When that happens, they owe it to each other to express them and see where things go from there.
Establish Rules and Boundaries
What do you want from the relationship? How often will you have sex? Will it be a spontaneous thing? Is anyone else allowed to know about the relationship? Is the relationship open or closed?
Talk about how the FWB relationship is going. Make changes to rules and boundaries as needed.
No Jealousy
If there is no exclusivity or you agree to see others, then there’s no getting jealous when that happens. If you do get jealous, you have to tell the other person.
Protect Yourselves
If it’s an open relationship, you owe it to yourself, your friend, and other partners to practice safe sex and include regular testing to avoid sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
When and How to Use FWB?
You might use FWB in a text or DM on social media. It could be to tell someone you want to have a friendship that includes casual sexual encounters. You might also use it to tell someone else about the relationship, though you must have your partner’s permission.
Technically, FWB should be capitalized, but people use lowercase all the time. In spoken conversation, most people say the whole phrase, not “FWB.”
Final Thoughts
“Friends with benefits” is the FWB meaning most people use. It’s a sexual relationship where two people don’t have a romantic attraction. It’s not a full-blown relationship; it’s one of several different types of no-strings-attached sexual relationships.
