polyandry

[ pol-ee-an-dree, pol-ee-an- ]

noun

1. the practice or condition of having more than one husband at one time. Compare monandry ( def 1 ).
2. (among female animals) the habit or system of having two or more mates, either simultaneously or successively.
3. Botany. the state of being polyandrous.

polyandry

/ ˈpɒlɪˌændrɪ /

noun

1. the practice or condition of being married to more than one husband at the same time Compare polygamy
2. the practice in animals of a female mating with more than one male during one breeding season
3. the condition in flowers of having a large indefinite number of stamens

polyandry

1. A practice in which women have two or more husbands at the same time. A rare form of polygamy , polyandry is practiced by only a few cultures . ( Compare monogamy .)

Derived Forms

• ˌpolyˈandrous, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of polyandry¹

From the Greek word polyandría, dating back to 1770–80. See poly-, -andry

Word History and Origins

Origin of polyandry¹

C18: from Greek poluandria, from poly- + -andria from anēr man

Example Sentences

For humans, even the thought of polyandry can jack up a man's sperm quality.

From Salon

Adult relationships vary in form across societies and include not only the type most common around the world today — heterosexual monogamy — but also same-sex marriage, nonmarital unions, polyamory, polygyny and polyandry.

From Washington Post

While the tomb reveals evidence of polygyny - men having children with multiple women - it also shows that polyandry was also widespread: women having children with multiple men.

From BBC

But Prof Machoko said polyandry was once practised in Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria, and it is still practised in Gabon, where the law allows it.

From BBC

“I wouldn’t suggest polyandry if the gender ratio was not so severely imbalanced,” Yew-Kwang Ng, who is Malaysian, wrote in his regular column on a Chinese business website this month.

From Washington Post