polygynous

[puh-lij-uh-nuhs]

adjective

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

2. Botany.,  having many pistils or styles.

Word History and Origins

Origin of polygynous¹

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

Example Sentences

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

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

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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.

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

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Polygamous societies are almost always polygynous, where one husband has multiple wives.

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