polygamous

American  

[puh-lig-uh-muhs] / pəˈlɪg ə məs /

adjective

1. of, pertaining to, characterized by, or practicing polygamy; polygamic.

2. Botany. bearing both unisexual and hermaphrodite flowers on the same or on different plants of the same species.

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Other Word Forms

• polygamously
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of polygamous

From the Greek word polýgamos, dating back to 1605–15. See poly-, -gamous

Compare meaning

How does polygamous compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• polyamorous vs. polygamous

Explanation

Someone who's polygamous has more than one husband or wife. Polygamous societies still exist, but it's more common for most people today to be married to one person at a time. You can describe someone with seven husbands as polygamous, and you can also use the word to describe an animal with several mates as well as a plant with a particularly varied reproductive system. The Late Greek source is polygamos, "often married," which combines the roots polys, "many," and gamos, "marriage."

Example Sentences

Polygamous marriages are recognised in South Africa but only if they are registered as customary weddings.

From BBC • Jan. 20, 2025

Polygamous leader Lyle Jeffs, wanted in Utah for an alleged $11 million food stamp fraud, was captured after a year on the run thanks to sharp-eyed pawn shop workers in Yankton.

From Washington Times • Dec. 27, 2017

Polygamous societies are almost always polygynous, where one husband has multiple wives.

From Salon • Mar. 10, 2013

Polygamous men, however, frequently have dozens of children by several different women—far more than the charts can handle.

From Slate • Jul. 25, 2012

Polygamous Flowers.—The great naturalist, Linnæus, whose name was immortalized by his careful study and classification of organized life, made the number of stamens possessed by various flowers the basis of a systematic classification.

From Plain Facts for Old and Young by Kellogg, John Harvey