monogamy
Americannoun
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marriage with only one person at a time.
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Zoology. the practice of having only one mate.
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the practice of marrying only once during life.
noun
Usage
What does monogamy mean? Monogamy most technically refers to the state or practice of being married to only one person at a time. The word monogamy is also commonly used in a more general way to refer to the state of being in a romantic or sexual relationship with only one person at a time. Less commonly, monogamy can mean the practice of being married only once throughout one’s life. In the study of animals, monogamy refers to the practice of having only one mate. A person or animal that engages in monogamy can be described as monogamous. A person who practices or advocates for monogamy can be called a monogamist. Example: Monogamy may be traditional in our modern society, but this hasn’t always been the case in cultures around the world.
Other Word Forms
- monogamous adjective
- monogamously adverb
- monogamousness noun
Etymology
Origin of monogamy
First recorded in 1605–15; from Late Latin monogamia, from Greek monogamía, equivalent to mono- + -gamy
Compare meaning
How does monogamy compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
Monogamy is when you are married to, or in a sexual relationship with, one person at a time. Humans are one of the few species that practice monogamy. Well, sometimes. You may have heard of something called polygamy, which is having more than one spouse at a time. The difference between monogamy and its antonym, polygamy, lies in the prefixes. In Greek, poly means "multiple," while mono means just the opposite: "single." Therefore, if you are committed to one romantic partner at a time, you are in a monogamous relationship.
Vocabulary lists containing monogamy
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"Once monogamy was locked in, there was no longer any evolutionary pressure to maintain genes involved in sperm motility."
From Science Daily • Jan. 31, 2026
While some researchers have argued that high relatedness is not required, the new evidence suggests that monogamy and strong genetic ties were essential for termite societies.
From Science Daily • Jan. 31, 2026
To estimate human monogamy levels, Dyble analyzed genetic evidence from archaeological sites, including Bronze Age burial grounds in Europe and Neolithic settlements in Anatolia.
From Science Daily • Jan. 22, 2026
"Based on the mating patterns of our closest living relatives, such as chimpanzees and gorillas, human monogamy probably evolved from non-monogamous group living, a transition that is highly unusual among mammals," said Dyble.
From Science Daily • Jan. 22, 2026
“My love, my one and only, precious, precious . . .” Mother, monogamy, romance.
From "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
