Contents

English

Etymology

Recorded since 1591, from Late Latin polygamia, from Ancient Greek (polygamia), itself from from (polygamos) "often married," from (polys) "many" + (gamos) "marriage".

Pronunciation

Noun

polygamy (plural polygamies)

  1. The having of a plurality of socially bonded sexual partners at the same time
    Originally polygamy could work either or both ways, but civilisation generally forbids simultaneous husbands
  2. Commonly used specifically for polygyny, the marriage of a man to more than one wife, or the practice of having several wives, at the same time.
    The Islamic form of polygamy is a husband with up to four wives
  3. (zoology) The state or habit of having more than one sexual mate.
    An insect queen actually practices polygamy only one day, while for an alpha-male defending his harem is the very essence of both his status and polygamy
  4. (botany) The condition or state of a plant which bears both perfect and unisexual flowers.

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