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View synonyms for monogamous

monogamous

[ muh-nog-uh-muhs ]

adjective

  1. practicing or advocating monogamy.
  2. of or relating to monogamy.


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Other Words From

  • mo·noga·mous·ly adverb
  • mo·noga·mous·ness noun
  • nonmo·noga·mous adjective
  • nonmo·noga·mous·ly adverb
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Word History and Origins

Origin of monogamous1

First recorded in 1760–70; from Late Latin monogamus, from Greek monógamos “marrying only once,” equivalent to mono- + -gamous
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Compare Meanings

How does monogamous compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

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Example Sentences

She said her early monogamous relationships “never felt right”, in contrast “living in a way that celebrates loving and connecting with multiple people is more aligned with who she is”, she said.

From BBC

At the beginning of the dot com boom in 2001, Ashley Madison became a space where married people or people in relationships could indulge in their secret fantasies outside of their monogamous relationships.

From Salon

What makes the oldfield mouse steadfastly monogamous throughout its life while its closest rodent relatives are promiscuous?

Condors are monogamous, and in 2016, Kun-Wac-Shun and his partner Tiny, or No. 236, hatched the first condor to “fledge from its nest at the Pinnacles in more than a century,” the zoo said.

The study, published Jan. 12 in the journal Current Biology, centers around prairie voles, which have the distinction of being among the 3% to 5% of mammals that form monogamous pair bonds.

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About This Word

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.

Where does monogamous come from?

The first records of the word monogamous come from around 1770. It comes from the Greek monógamos, meaning “marrying only once,” from mono-, “single” or “one,” and -gamy, meaning “marriage.” The same root is used in the words bigamous (being married to two people at the same time) and polygamous (being married to more than one person at a time).

Though it has traditionally been associated with marriage, the term monogamous today is commonly used to describe people who are in a sexual relationship with or date only one person at a time. While monogamy is often seen as a traditional norm of human relationships, especially in Western cultures, not everyone shares this view. The phrase serial monogamy refers to the practice of being married several times in succession, or, more popularly, going from one monogamous long-term relationship to another. A person who does this is sometimes called a serial monogamist. Such terms are often used in a critical way that’s perhaps intended to suggest that monogamy is unnatural or unlikely to lead to fulfillment.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to monogamous?

  • monogamously (adverb)
  • monogamousness (noun)
  • nonmonogamous (adjective)
  • monogamy (noun)

What are some synonyms for monogamous?

What are some words that share a root or word element with monogamous

What are some words that often get used in discussing monogamous?

How is monogamous used in real life?

Monogamous is perhaps most popularly used to describe someone who has a sexual relationship with only one person at a time.

https://twitter.com/britittyp/status/1300979106767540225

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