polygynous

American  

[puh-lij-uh-nuhs] / pəˈlɪdʒ ə nəs /

adjective

1. of, pertaining to, characterized by, or practicing polygyny.

2. Botany. having many pistils or styles.

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Etymology

Origin of polygynous

First recorded in 1840–50; polygyn(y) + -ous

Example Sentences

Earlier research shows that 85% of pre-industrial societies allowed polygynous marriage -- where a man is married to several women at the same time.

From Science Daily

Darras notes that yellow crazy ants are polygynous, meaning they have multiple queens — in some cases their reproductive capabilities are essentially limitless.

From Salon

But when the team looked at the impact of STIs on larger polygynous societies, they found a very different effect.

From The Guardian

In polygynous species, by contrast, males may be less choosy about their mates, Dale suggests, so that there is little benefit to females displaying a colourful plumage that is energetically costly for them to maintain.

From Nature

But males in many polygynous species basically take whatever they can get, Kempenaers says.

From Science Magazine