monogyny

American  

[muh-noj-uh-nee] / məˈnɒdʒ ə ni /

noun

1. the practice or condition of having only one wife at a time.

2. (of a male animal) the condition of having one mate at a time.

3. (in social insects) the condition of having one functioning queen in a colony.

4. Botany. the condition of having one pistil.

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monogyny British  

/ mɒˈnɒdʒɪnɪ /

noun

1. the custom of having only one female sexual partner over a period of time

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Other Word Forms

• monogynic adjective
• monogynious adjective
• monogynist noun
• monogynous adjective

Etymology

Origin of monogyny

1875–80; mono- + Greek -gynia, equivalent to gyn ( ḗ ) woman, wife + -ia -y ³

Example Sentences

Male Australian redback and brown widow spiders facilitate monogyny – the practice of males mating only once – through “self-sacrificial mating behaviour” in a bid to increase their chances of paternity.

From The Guardian