group marriage

noun

1. (among primitive peoples) a form of marriage in which a group of males is united with a group of females to form a single conjugal unit.

group marriage

noun

1. an arrangement in which several males live together with several females, forming a conjugal unit

Word History and Origins

Origin of group marriage¹

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

There is also, of course, a form of group-marriage that differs from 'Pirrauru marriage,' and is apparently simpler.

From Project Gutenberg

Even in Australia the phenomena of Pirrauru and of group-marriage are confined particularly to the southern regions.

From Project Gutenberg

But Mr. Howitt notes other practices which are taken by him to be mere rudimentary survivals of "group marriage."

From Project Gutenberg

That is the opinion of believers in "the primary undivided horde," and in "group marriage," or rather "status marriage."

From Project Gutenberg

That scholar was a warm partisan of the primeval horde, of group marriage, and (at times) of a reformatory movement.

From Project Gutenberg