English Reference
Adjective

monogamous

adj.
C1 Advanced US /məˈnɑɡəməs/ UK /mənˈɒɡɐməs/ monog·a·mous Botany Zoology

adj.having only one partner at a time. In nature, this describes animals or plants that do not share their mate or their seeds with others.

adj.having or practising only one sexual partner at a time. In a botanical context, it refers to plants that produce only one type of seed or flower.


SIMPLE

The bird is a monogamous species that stays with its mate for life.

CONTEXTUAL

Many social animals are monogamous, forming long-term pair bonds to raise their young together.

COMPLEX

While most plants are polygamous, some species are strictly monogamous, ensuring that genetic material is shared only within a single, stable pairing.


From mono- + -gamous.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated