They may be on intimate terms (in which case they are often referred to as "lovers") or anonymous,[1] as in the case of sex with a stranger, a one-night stand, or a prostitute.
A person can be another person's sexual partner even if the sexual activity is illegal, socially taboo, or otherwise in breach of a trust or commitment.
A person may have only one or more than one sexual partner at any one time, either as polyamory, polygamy or in contravention of convention.
A sexual partner may or may not have equal power during a sexual activity; such sexual "roles" (which can sometimes be determined by personality type but can also be determined by a conscious choice by the individual to "assume" a particular "role") typically fall under various dominance and submission categories.
An ex-sexual partner is a person with whom the other partner does not intend to engage in any further sexual activity, while a prospective sexual partner is one with whom the person has not previously engaged in any sexual activity, but desires to do so.