Word
polygamy
US/pəˈɫɪɡəˌmi/
UK/pˌɒlɪɡˈæmi/
Definitions
01multiple spouses
n. the custom or practice of being married to more than one person at the same time.
n. the condition or practice of having more than one spouse or marriage partner simultaneously.
“In some cultures, polygamy is a traditional practice that has existed for centuries.”
“The legal system in most Western nations strictly prohibits polygamy, recognizing only monogamous marital unions as valid under the law.”
Formal
Usage
Uncountable when referring to the practice in general; countable when referring to specific instances or systems.
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02multiple mates
n. the habit of an animal having more than one sexual partner.
n. the state or habit of an animal having more than one sexual mate during a breeding season.
“Scientists studied the polygamy of the bird species to understand their social structure.”
“The prevalence of polygamy in certain primate species is often linked to the availability of resources and the need for genetic diversity.”
Technical
Usage
Commonly used in zoological research to describe mating strategies.
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03botany
n. when a single plant has both male, female, and mixed flowers.
n. the condition of a plant bearing both hermaphrodite (perfect) and unisexual flowers on the same or different individuals of the same species.
“The botanist noted the polygamy of the tree, which helped it reproduce easily.”
“Polygamy in floral biology serves as an evolutionary mechanism to ensure successful pollination across varying environmental conditions.”
Technical
Real-World Examples
“Polygamy is permitted under Islamic law and remains relatively common in The Gambia, where about 96 percent of the population is Muslim.” 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.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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englishreference.com/q/polygamy