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definitions

monogamy

[ muh-nog-uh-mee ]
/ məˈnɒg ə mi /
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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.

RELATED WORDS

merger, wedding, virginity, abstinence, decency, alliance, amalgamation, wedlock, nuptials, confederation, matrimony, sacrament, link, match, espousal, tie, association, coupling, consortium, mating

Nearby words

  1. monofilament,
  2. monogametic,
  3. monogamic,
  4. monogamist,
  5. monogamous,
  6. monogenean,
  7. monogenesis,
  8. monogenetic,
  9. monogenic,
  10. monogenism
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. 2019

Examples from the Web for monogamy

British Dictionary definitions for monogamy

monogamy

/ (mɒˈnɒɡəmɪ) /

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 for monogamy

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

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).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Medicine definitions for monogamy

monogamy

[ mə-nŏg′ə-mē ]

n.

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.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Culture definitions for monogamy

monogamy

[ (muh-nog-uh-mee) ]

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

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.