Then we have TV shows like the Bachelor and Bachelorette where they kiss/sleep with multiple people whilst dating

No. You dont understand it. And ‘dating’ implies that the relationship has not reached the next step.Escalating the relationship to exclusivity is a mutually agreed upon next step.

Otherwise you are just flapping about with a non-exclusive contract. A transferable, negotiable, non-exclusive contract whereby anybody can do anything, with anybody, at anytime. That’s not dating.

But Mr Putin here, think that this would be called an “outing”, and that “dating” actually means you are in a relationship.

Dating does not mean a relationship which you alluded to, but an agreement and acknowledgement of entering into the phase to develop such relationship, one cannot develop such relationship without exclusivity. There are different degrees of relationship. Dating is one of those terms with intrapersonal definition. People prescribe different meanings to ‘dating’, it does not mean its ‘misunderstood’.

Outing has different meanings, it can be a picnic, the practice of revealing a matter or simply what I referred to.

OP as I mentioned, its best to clear up the mutual expectation early on to prevent disappointment and waste of time.

Dating may or may not include physical intimacy

Both envious and confused. That is not what dating is. Who said anything about a contract? Dating is the casual early stages of a relationship. Nothing regarding exclusivity has been inferred or implied.

as others said. If its in the “getting to know you” phase then its fine. But as soon as that phase is over aka after 3 – 4 dates with someone its time to commit and ditch the rest.