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polygamy vs. polyamory

polygamy vs. polyamory: What’s the difference?

Polygamy is the practice or state of having more than one spouse at a time. Polyamory is the practice of participating in multiple romantic or sexual relationships with the knowledge and consent of all partners. Poly- means “many,” -gamy means “marriage,” and -amory means “love.”

polygamy

[ puh-lig-uh-mee ]
noun
  1. the practice or condition of having more than one spouse, especially wife, at one time.
  2. the habit or system of mating with more than one individual, either simultaneously or successively.

polyamory

[ pol-ee-am-er-ee ]
noun
  1. the practice or condition of participating simultaneously in more than one serious romantic or sexual relationship with the knowledge and consent of all partners.