polygyny

[ puh-lij-uh-nee ]

noun

1. the practice or condition of having more than one wife at one time.
2. (among male animals) the habit or system of having two or more mates, either simultaneously or successively.
3. (among social insects) the condition of having two or more functioning queens in a colony.
4. Botany. the state or condition of having many pistils or styles.

polygyny

/ pəˈlɪdʒɪnɪ /

noun

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

Derived Forms

• poˈlygynist, noun
• poˈlygynous, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of polygyny¹

1770–80; < Greek polygýn ( aios ) having many wives ( poly-, gyn- ) + -y ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of polygyny¹

C18: from poly- + -gyny, from Greek gunē a woman

Example Sentences

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

“Looking at modern day hunter gatherers who provide some sort of model for pre-agricultural societies, ie any human society prior to about 10,000 years ago, then polygyny is very rare,” he said.

From The Guardian

In a Snapchat reply to one of his followers, Odah stated that men should settle for marrying only one woman, an unpopular opinion in a country where polygyny is widely practised.

From BBC

But the authors found that polygyny had an even stronger effect on females: It made them drabber.

From Science Magazine