monogyny

[ muh-noj-uh-nee ]

noun

1. the practice or condition of having only one wife at a time.
2. (of a male animal) the condition of having one mate at a time.
3. (in social insects) the condition of having one functioning queen in a colony.
4. Botany. the condition of having one pistil.

monogyny

/ mɒˈnɒdʒɪnɪ /

noun

1. the custom of having only one female sexual partner over a period of time

Derived Forms

• moˈnogynous, adjective
• moˈnogynist, noun

Other Words From

• mo·nogy·nous mon·o·gyn·ic [mon-, uh, -, jin, -ik], mono·gyni·ous adjective
• mo·nogy·nist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of monogyny¹

1875–80; mono- + Greek -gynia, equivalent to gyn ( ḗ ) woman, wife + -ia -y ³

Example Sentences

Male Australian redback and brown widow spiders facilitate monogyny – the practice of males mating only once – through “self-sacrificial mating behaviour” in a bid to increase their chances of paternity.

From The Guardian