bigamy

[ big-uh-mee ]

noun

, plural big·a·mies.

1. Law. the crime of marrying while one has a spouse still living, from whom no valid divorce has been effected.
2. Ecclesiastical. any violation of canon law concerning marital status that would disqualify a person from receiving holy orders or from retaining or surpassing an ecclesiastical rank.

bigamy

/ ˈbɪɡəmɪ /

noun

1. the crime of marrying a person while one is still legally married to someone else

Derived Forms

• ˈbigamously, adverb
• ˈbigamist, noun
• ˈbigamous, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of bigamy¹

1200–50; Middle English bigamie < Medieval Latin bigamia ( Late Latin bigam ( us ) bigamous + Latin -ia -y ³ )

Word History and Origins

Origin of bigamy¹

C13: via French from Medieval Latin bigamus ; see bi- ¹, -gamy

Example Sentences

But Tuesday it turned out that one congressman may have ties to a far more exotic crime; bigamy.

From The Daily Beast

Bigamy, or having multiple active marriage licenses, is a third-degree felony in Utah.

From The Daily Beast

But, according to Florida law, that would qualify as bigamy.

From The Daily Beast

Already, seven FLDS men have been convicted of either bigamy, arranging child-bride marriages or sex assault of a child.

From The Daily Beast

The LDS renounced polygamy long ago in response to bigamy laws, and doesn't recognize any splinter groups that practice polygamy.

From The Daily Beast

If she had lived to marry, some mischief—making scoundrel would have procured the indictment of her husband for bigamy.

From Project Gutenberg

Mrs. Johnson had been arrested on a charge of bigamy at Center, Texas, and was out on bond when she was seized.

From Project Gutenberg

Now Lizzie had convicted her second husband of bigamy, and had freed herself after that fashion.

From Project Gutenberg

The Squire was an unlifelike story of a case of bigamy, annulled by an unexpected death.

From Project Gutenberg

There's a law against bigamy, I believe; but I'll marry them both, the maid first, the mistress afterward.

From Project Gutenberg