monogamy

[muh-nog-uh-mee]

See more synonyms for monogamy on Thesaurus.com

noun

marriage with only one person at a time.Compare bigamy, polygamy.
Zoology. the practice of having only one mate.
the practice of marrying only once during life.

Compare digamy.

Origin of monogamy

1605–15; < Late Latin monogamia < Greek monogamía. See mono-, -gamy

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for monogamy

Contemporary Examples

As Davies tells it, monogamy did not have much of a grip on the upper levels of public life.
Murdoch on the Rocks: How a Lone Reporter Revealed the Mogul's Tabloid Terror Machine
Clive Irving
August 25, 2014
He might have fallen off the monogamy wagon a couple of times after that, but I have to tell you, not very much.
Murder, Sex, and the Writing Life: Norman Mailer’s Biography
Ronald K. Fried
November 19, 2013
With 50 percent of marriages ending in divorce, monogamy may seem like impossible ideal.
What’s So Bad About an Open Marriage?
Tricia Romano
November 11, 2013
Open relationships can be idealistic, cynical, natural, negotiated, beautiful, or abusive—just like monogamy.
Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher, Open Relationships, and Divorce
Tracy Quan
November 19, 2011
But studies now show that monogamy is not a central feature to many gay and lesbian relationships.
Gay Marriage Gets Cold Feet
Jessica Bennett
July 2, 2011

Historical Examples

To resume, monogamy is by far the most widespread form of marriage.
The Sexual Question
August Forel
(c) Does it not tend towards, and is it not fostered by, monogamy?
Essays: Scientific, Political, & Speculative, Vol. I
Herbert Spencer
Then they need desperately to know, "What is the case for monogamy?"
The Good Housekeeping Marriage Book
Various
What has monogamy or polygamy or polyandry to do with this matter?
Mother Earth, Vol. 1 No. 2, April 1906
Various
Monogamy was encouraged, and the idea of home came into being.
The Perfect Gentleman
Ralph Bergengren

British Dictionary definitions for monogamy

monogamy

noun

the state or practice of having only one husband or wife over a period of timeCompare bigamy, polygamy (def. 1), digamy
zoology the practice of having only one mate

Derived Formsmonogamous, adjectivemonogamously, adverbmonogamousness, noun

Word Origin

C17: via French from Late Latin monogamia, from Greek; see mono- + -gamy

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

Word Origin and History for monogamy

n.

1610s, from French monogamie, from Late Latin monogamia, from Greek monogamia, from monogamos "marrying only once," from monos "single, alone" (see mono-) + gamos "marriage" (see gamete).

monogamy in Medicine

monogamy

(mə-nŏg′ə-mē)

The practice or condition of being married to only one person at a time.
The condition of having only one mate.

Related formsmo•nog′a•mous adj.

monogamy in Culture

monogamy

[(muh-nog-uh-mee)]

A form of marriage in which one man is united with one woman. (Compare polyandry and polygamy.)

monogamy

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}monogamy

Related Words

Examples from the Web for monogamy

Contemporary Examples

As Davies tells it, monogamy did not have much of a grip on the upper levels of public life.

He might have fallen off the monogamy wagon a couple of times after that, but I have to tell you, not very much.

With 50 percent of marriages ending in divorce, monogamy may seem like impossible ideal.

Open relationships can be idealistic, cynical, natural, negotiated, beautiful, or abusive—just like monogamy.

But studies now show that monogamy is not a central feature to many gay and lesbian relationships.

Historical Examples

To resume, monogamy is by far the most widespread form of marriage.

(c) Does it not tend towards, and is it not fostered by, monogamy?

Then they need desperately to know, "What is the case for monogamy?"

What has monogamy or polygamy or polyandry to do with this matter?

Monogamy was encouraged, and the idea of home came into being.

monogamy

Word Origin

Word Origin and History for monogamy

n.

monogamy

monogamy

Origin of monogamy