monogamous

[muh-nog-uh-muhs]

adjective

1. practicing or advocating monogamy.

2. of or relating to monogamy.

Other Word Forms

• monogamously adverb
• monogamousness noun
• nonmonogamous adjective
• nonmonogamously adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of monogamous¹

First recorded in 1760–70; from Late Latin monogamus, from Greek monógamos “marrying only once,” equivalent to mono- + -gamous

Example Sentences

A line has been crossed, and two people in a once-committed, monogamous relationship find themselves at odds while living in entirely different parts of the world.

Read more on Salon

Many birds, on the other hand, are monogamous, which means that competitive pressure is lower and males often live longer.

Read more on Science Daily

Lehmiller’s research shows that the opposite is true: Most people report positive experiences when they share their fantasies—even when the fantasy is about opening up a monogamous relationship to other people.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Eagles are mostly monogamous and the pair has nested together for the last seven years.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Two years into our monogamous dating, I wondered where we were headed in our relationship.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• celibate 
• platonic 
• subdued 
• unblemished 
• virginal 

When To Use

What does monogamous mean?

Monogamous means having only one spouse, one sexual partner, or (in the case of animals) one mate.Monogamous is used to describe people and animals that practice monogamy or to describe their relationships or practices. The word monogamy most technically refers to the state or practice of being married to only one person at a time. It 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 monogamous person can be called a monogamist. The term can also be applied to a person who advocates for monogamy.Example: Monogamy may be traditional in our modern society, but monogamous relationships haven’t always been the norm in every culture.