monogamy
Americannoun
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marriage with only one person at a time.
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Zoology. the practice of having only one mate.
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the practice of marrying only once during life.
noun
Usage
What does monogamy mean? Monogamy most technically refers to the state or practice of being married to only one person at a time. The word monogamy 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 person or animal that engages in monogamy can be described as monogamous. A person who practices or advocates for monogamy can be called a monogamist. Example: Monogamy may be traditional in our modern society, but this hasn’t always been the case in cultures around the world.
Other Word Forms
- monogamous adjective
- monogamously adverb
- monogamousness noun
Etymology
Origin of monogamy
First recorded in 1605–15; from Late Latin monogamia, from Greek monogamía, equivalent to mono- + -gamy
Compare meaning
How does monogamy compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
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.
"Instead, it's a strong indicator that monogamy had already evolved."
From Science Daily • Jan. 31, 2026
The findings provide new insight into a long-standing scientific debate over whether monogamy is a critical step in the evolution of complex insect societies.
From Science Daily • Jan. 31, 2026
African species score even higher, with Ethiopian wolves at 76.5% and African Wild dogs ranking second overall with an 85% monogamy rating.
From Science Daily • Jan. 22, 2026
"This study measures reproductive monogamy rather than sexual behavior. In most mammals, mating and reproduction are tightly linked. In humans, birth control methods and cultural practices break that link."
From Science Daily • Jan. 22, 2026
Many scholars vehemently reject this theory, insisting that both monogamy and the forming of nuclear families are core human behaviours.
From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari
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.
