Usage
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.
Other Word Forms
- monogamously adverb
- monogamousness noun
- nonmonogamous adjective
- nonmonogamously adverb
Etymology
Origin of monogamous
First recorded in 1760–70; from Late Latin monogamus, from Greek monógamos “marrying only once,” equivalent to mono- + -gamous
Compare meaning
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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.
What's worse is that, because albatrosses are monogamous and pair for life, it takes them up to four years to bond with a partner.
From BBC
With around 66% of humans forming monogamous bonds, we outscore chimps and gorillas but fall short of the Californian mouse, the true heavyweight champion of lifelong love.
From BBC
Humans are a bit like meerkats when it comes to pairing up, according to a study that examined the monogamous lifestyles of different species.
From BBC
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.
From Salon
Many birds, on the other hand, are monogamous, which means that competitive pressure is lower and males often live longer.
From Science Daily
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
