Usually, friends with benefits (a.k.a. FWB) means that people who know each other engage in intimate/sexual activity without really dating each other. Its different from hooking up, which tends to be a one-time thing with someone new.

Is it OK to be in FWB?

Being FWB actually can be healthy, she says—if youre careful about it, that is. In fact, for some people, FWB relationships work even better than more traditional monogamous relationships, explains Richmond.