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serial monogamy

American  

noun

  1. a form of monogamy characterized by several successive, short-term marriages over the course of a lifetime.


serial monogamy British  

noun

  1. the practice of having a number of long-term romantic or sexual partners in succession

"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

Etymology

Origin of serial monogamy

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The Oxford English Dictionary traces the word polyamory back to 1992 and says it is not to be confused with casual recreational sex, serial monogamy or swinging.

From The Guardian

What we’re going to see is serial monogamy, a series of pair bonds.”

From The Guardian

By the 1970s, serial monogamy started to become the norm.

From Salon

And in the age of AIDS, even Bond must bend to serial monogamy; this time, for reasons of plot and propriety, he’s a one-gal guy.”

From Time

Despite our era of high divorce rates and serial monogamy, we still live under the spell of elusive, magical fairytale romance.

From Forbes