pair bond

¹ American  

noun

Animal Behavior.

1. a partnership between a mating couple that lasts through one season, serving primarily in the cooperative rearing of young.

2. the couple that forms such a partnership.

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pair-bond ² American  

[pair-bond] / ˈpɛərˌbɒnd /

verb (used without object)

1. (of a mating couple) to form and maintain a pair bond.

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noun

1. pair bond.

pair bond British  

noun

1. the exclusive relationship formed between a male and a female, esp in some species of animals and birds during courtship and breeding

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Other Word Forms

• pair bonding noun

Etymology

Origin of pair bond¹

First recorded in 1935–40

Origin of pair-bond¹

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

Despite their very different upbringings and destinies, the pair bond through their desert adventures, like taking out Spice harvesters together.

From Salon

“While he does not fly them with transmitters, macaws are different from some other species of birds in that they have a very strong pair bond; they see him as the being they’re linked with, so they return to him.”

From Los Angeles Times

While we can’t definitively say that these lizards grieve, Dr. Whiting said, “I would certainly say we can’t discount that certain species that have that strong pair bond might.”

From New York Times

To which Levi responds: “What about prairie voles? They pair bond for life.”

From Washington Post

Many dogs will be ill-equipped to survive, not having had any lived experiences of obtaining their own food, finding shelter, or forming a workable pair bond.

From Salon