polygamy

Meaning

1. (countable, uncountable) The condition of having more than one spouse or marriage partner at one time.
2. (countable, especially, often, uncountable) Synonym of polygyny (“marriage of a man to more than one wife, the practice of having several wives at the same time”).
3. (countable, uncountable) The state or habit of having more than one sexual mate.
4. (countable, uncountable) The condition or state of a plant which bears both perfect and unisexual flowers.

Opposite of

agamy, ;, monogamy, serial monogamy

Synonyms

polygyny

polyandry

bigamy

plural marriage

group marriage

Translations

polygamie

poligamia

poligamia

Polygamie

poligamia

polygamie

πολυγαμία

poligami

poligàmia

Vielweiberei

poligamia

Vielehe

çokeşlilik

Pronounced as (IPA)

/pəˈlɪɡ.ə.mi/

Etymology

Recorded since 1591, from Late Latin polygamia, from Ancient Greek πολυγαμία (polugamía), itself from πολύγαμος (polúgamos, “married to many”), from πολύς (polús, “many”) + γάμος (gámos, “marriage”). Relates to modern prefix and suffix poly- + -gamy.

Sentences

Polygamy , dowries and female circumcision were all abolished .