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
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
How does monogamous compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
Use the adjective monogamous to describe a person or animal who has only one mate. Beavers are one of only a few mammals that are truly monogamous, raising their young and living with a single mate. There are many cultures in the world that aren't typically monogamous, meaning that men may have more than one wife or women more than one husband. However, most western, industrialized countries have made being monogamous the only culturally acceptable choice, and most American kids grow up imagining they'll marry one person and stay with that husband or wife until death. Monogamous comes from the Greek word monogamos, "marrying only once."
Vocabulary lists containing monogamous
What If It's Us
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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.
One monogamous pair lives with up to 30 helpers, who defend the territory, dig shelters in the sand, and keep the eggs clean.
From Slate • May 10, 2026
The men taking aim at Megan, and it is mostly men, mock her supposedly ludicrous expectation that any man with a multimillion-dollar net worth would remain monogamous.
From Salon • Apr. 30, 2026
Whether humans are naturally monogamous has been argued for centuries.
From Science Daily • Jan. 22, 2026
As part of the search for the monogamous ideal, or an expression of anxiety about commitment, the practice is often time-limited.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 13, 2026
Bonobos aren’t monogamous, so it’s impossible to know who is whose father, but these feel like Otto’s close companions.
From "Endangered" by Eliot Schrefer
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.
