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.

  1. (in social insects) the condition of having one functioning queen in a colony.

  2. Botany. the condition of having one pistil.

Origin of monogyny

1
1875–80; mono- + Greek -gynia, equivalent to gyn() woman, wife + -ia-y3

Other words from monogyny

  • mo·nog·y·nous, mon·o·gyn·ic [mon-uh-jin-ik], /ˌmɒn əˈdʒɪn ɪk/, mon·o·gyn·i·ous, adjective
  • mo·nog·y·nist, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for monogyny

monogyny

/ (mɒˈnɒdʒɪnɪ) /


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

Derived forms of monogyny

  • monogynist, noun
  • monogynous, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012