polyandry
[ pol-ee-an-dree, pol-ee-an- ]
/ ˈpɒl iˌæn dri, ˌpɒl iˈæn- /
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noun
the practice or condition of having more than one husband at one time.Compare monandry (def. 1).
(among female animals) the habit or system of having two or more mates, either simultaneously or successively.
Botany. the state of being polyandrous.
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Words nearby polyandry
polyamorous, polyamory, polyandric, polyandrist, polyandrous, polyandry, polyangiitis, polyangular, polyanion, polyanthus, polyarchy
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
How to use polyandry in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for polyandry
polyandry
/ (ˈpɒlɪˌændrɪ) /
noun
the practice or condition of being married to more than one husband at the same timeCompare polygamy
the practice in animals of a female mating with more than one male during one breeding season
the condition in flowers of having a large indefinite number of stamens
See polygyny
Derived forms of polyandry
polyandrous, adjectiveWord Origin for polyandry
C18: from Greek poluandria, from poly- + -andria from anēr man
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
Cultural definitions for polyandry
polyandry
[ (pol-ee-an-dree) ]
A practice in which women have two or more husbands at the same time. A rare form of polygamy, polyandry is practiced by only a few cultures. (Compare monogamy.)
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.