Usage
What does monogamous mean? Monogamous means having only one spouse, one sexual partner, or (in the case of animals) one mate.Monogamous is used to describe people and animals that practice monogamy or to describe their relationships or practices. The word monogamy most technically refers to the state or practice of being married to only one person at a time. It 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 monogamous person can be called a monogamist. The term can also be applied to a person who advocates for monogamy.Example: Monogamy may be traditional in our modern society, but monogamous relationships haven’t always been the norm in every culture.
Other Word Forms
- monogamously adverb
- monogamousness noun
- nonmonogamous adjective
- nonmonogamously adverb
Etymology
Origin of monogamous
First recorded in 1760–70; from Late Latin monogamus, from Greek monógamos “marrying only once,” equivalent to mono- + -gamous
Compare meaning
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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.
"Almost all other monogamous mammals either live in tight family units of just a breeding pair and their offspring, or in groups where only one female breeds," said Dyble.
From Science Daily • Jan. 22, 2026
That places our species seventh out of eleven studied and firmly within the group considered socially monogamous, with a preference for long-term pair bonds.
From Science Daily • Jan. 22, 2026
As part of the search for the monogamous ideal, or an expression of anxiety about commitment, the practice is often time-limited.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 13, 2026
The study shows that while humans are far from the most monogamous creatures, our tendency to pair up for life is still remarkable compared with many other species.
From BBC • Dec. 26, 2025
Bonobos aren’t monogamous, so it’s impossible to know who is whose father, but these feel like Otto’s close companions.
From "Endangered" by Eliot Schrefer
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.
