monogamy

[ muh-nog-uh-mee ]

noun

1. marriage with only one person at a time.
2. Zoology. the practice of having only one mate.
3. the practice of marrying only once during life.

monogamy

/ mɒˈnɒɡəmɪ /

noun

1. See polygamy, digamy, bigamy
   the state or practice of having only one husband or wife over a period of time Compare bigamy polygamy digamy
2. zoology the practice of having only one mate

monogamy

1. A form of marriage in which one man is united with one woman. ( Compare polyandry and polygamy .)

Derived Forms

• moˈnogamousness, noun
• moˈnogamously, adverb
• moˈnogamous, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of monogamy¹

First recorded in 1605–15; from Late Latin monogamia, from Greek monogamía, equivalent to mono- + -gamy

Word History and Origins

Origin of monogamy¹

C17: via French from Late Latin monogamia, from Greek; see mono- + -gamy

Example Sentences

Cooke also takes on many other ways scientists have misread sexual dynamics over the years, such as the myth that males benefit evolutionarily from promiscuity and females from monogamy.

From Science News

Howard University College of Medicine anatomy professor Rui Diogo leads a virtual talk on topics such as monogamy, polygamy, polyamory, homosexuality and more, as well as trace how our wrong ideas about sex came into being.

From Washington Blade

He talks candidly about the saga, non-monogamy, assisted suicide, and why he is ‘bored’ of the gay actor debate.

From The Daily Beast

As Davies tells it, monogamy did not have much of a grip on the upper levels of public life.

From The Daily Beast

What if gay marriage really will change the institution of marriage, shifting conceptions around monogamy and intimacy?

From The Daily Beast

If you think about it, actual monogamy has never been the Western norm.

From The Daily Beast

He might have fallen off the monogamy wagon a couple of times after that, but I have to tell you, not very much.

From The Daily Beast

If we cannot justify monogamy by the facts of life, we shall declare ourselves for polygamy.

From Project Gutenberg

My defense of monogamy is based upon the fact that I have never known any happy or successful "free lovers."

From Project Gutenberg

I hope that none of my readers understands by "monogamy" any such system of spiritual strangulation.

From Project Gutenberg

The third reason is that monogamy is economical of human time and thought.

From Project Gutenberg

Well, then I am surprised youve never noticed that such animals live in monogamy.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• abstinence
• decency
• virginity

About This Word

What does monogamy mean?

Monogamy most technically refers to the state or practice of being married to only one person at a time.

The word monogamy 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 person or animal that engages in monogamy can be described as monogamous. A person who practices or advocates for monogamy can be called a monogamist.

Example: Monogamy may be traditional in our modern society, but this hasn’t always been the case in cultures around the world.

Where does monogamy come from?

The first records of the word monogamy come from the early 1600s. It comes from the Greek monogamía, from mono-, meaning “single” or “one,” and -gamy, meaning “marriage.” The same root is used in the words bigamy (referring to the practice of being married to two people) and polygamy (referring to the practice of being married to more than one person at a time).

Though it has traditionally been associated with marriage, the term monogamy today commonly refers to the state of only dating or being in a sexual relationship with 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 monogamy?

• monogamous (adjective)
• monogamist (noun)
• monogamic (adjective)

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

• serial monogamy
• bigamy
• polygamy
• digamy
• deuterogamy

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

• marriage
• spouse
• partner
• husband
• wife
• relationship
• exclusive
• traditional

How is monogamy used in real life?

Monogamy is perhaps most popularly used to refer to the practice of having a sexual relationship with only one person at a time.

Most of my exes have found their significant other almost immediately after dating me. I am like the layover on the way to monogamy, the brief Icelandic stopover on the way home from your wild vacation. I am the Reykjavik of relationships.

— Elise Bauman (@baumanelise) December 20, 2019

Monogamy is okay but so is polygamy. Dating a lot of people at once is okay, dating one person at a time is okay. Different people have different preferences y’all be so pressed to shame people for they dating preferences.

— zah zah (@lustclouds) December 26, 2019

The project will re-examine the original series' depiction of love, hatred, desire, monogamy, marriage and divorce through the lens of a contemporary American couple played by #OscarIsaac and #MichelleWilliams https://t.co/LYQdePDVK2

— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) July 9, 2020