Etymology The sexual practice is so called after the custom in swing dancing of changing partners after each dance, unlike traditional ballroom dance styles where one has a single partner.
1
The act or motion of that which swings.
Mr. Henderson's chief trouble seems to be that he cannot forget his old shiftiness of views and his pendulum-like swingings between Liberalism and Independent Labourism[…]1973, Socialist Review, volume 8, page 331:
2
Lifestyle, Sex, Sexuality An activity where couples engage in sexual activity with different partners, often in a group setting.
Our swinging friends were in all sorts of professions – teachers, doctors, bankers, at-home mums. […] We left swinging for a few years, being busy with our children and work.2017 October 13, anonymous author, “My life in sex: ‘We have rules for swinging: no one cheating on their wives, no one who supports Trump’”, in The Guardian, →ISSN, archived from the original on 17 Feb 2018:
Then one night in bed, Simon gently suggested swinging. I was resistant to it, but I thought Simon might leave me if I said no. I agreed to it for him, for our relationship.2025 June 22, Olivia Ladanyi, “This is how we do it: ‘I discovered my bisexuality when my husband and I started swinging’”, in The Guardian, →ISSN, archived from the original on 02 Jul 2025:
swinging
adj
Etymology The sexual practice is so called after the custom in swing dancing of changing partners after each dance, unlike traditional ballroom dance styles where one has a single partner.
1964, Lou Sullivan, personal diary, quoted in 2019, Ellis Martin, Zach Ozma (editors), We Both Laughed In Pleasure Didn't do anything great except saw "The Beatles" on The Ed Sullivan Show and Kathy practically had a bird. They are sorta cute but I think Ringo is swingin, George is cute, Paul is a good singer and John is icky. Too!
The party was swinging.
3
Sexually promiscuous.
Hey, everyone fantasizes about what kind of swinging stud or studette they could be if they were only free from the shackles of domesticity.2003 February 23, Bob Goldman, “Welcome To Splitsville”, in Florida Today: