bigamy vs. polygamy

bigamy vs. polygamy: What's the difference?

Bigamy refers to marrying someone else while simultaneously being married to a spouse who is still living. Polygamy refers to the practice of having more than one spouse, especially a wife, at once. Both practices are illegal in many places.

bigamy

noun

plural

bigamies 

  1. Law.,  the crime of marrying while one has a spouse still living, from whom no valid divorce has been effected.

  2. Ecclesiastical.,  any violation of canon law concerning marital status that would disqualify a person from receiving holy orders or from retaining or surpassing an ecclesiastical rank.

polygamy

noun

  1. the practice or condition of having more than one spouse, especially wife, at one time.

  2. Zoology.,  the habit or system of mating with more than one individual, either simultaneously or successively.