monogyny

[muh-noj-uh-nee]

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.

monogyny

/ mɒˈnɒdʒɪnɪ /

noun

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

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of monogyny¹

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.

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