monogamous

adjective

mo·​nog·​a·​mous mə-ˈnä-gə-məs 

variants or less commonly monogamic

ˌmä-nə-ˈga-mik 

: relating to, characterized by, or practicing monogamy : having only one mate, spouse, or sexual partner at one time

… the beaver has several qualities that endear it to people: it is monogamous and lives in a family unit; it is gentle and clean; it is absolutely industrious.

—Doug Hand

But for women who are not at risk for STDs because they are in mutually monogamous relationships, modern IUDs can be safe and very effective.

—Kim Painter

There are many kinds of infidelity, but here we are talking about a sexual infidelity in monogamous marriage or a relationship that is tantamount to marriage.

—Frank Pittman

monogamously adverb

Pairs usually mate monogamously for life …

—Vincenzo Penteriani et al.

Did you know?

What is the Difference Between monogamous and Polygamous?

American marriage is by law monogamous; people are permitted to have only one spouse at a time. There are cultures with laws that permit marriage to more than one person at a time, or polygamy. Although the term polygamy may refer to polyandry (marriage to more than one man), it is more often used as a synonym for polygyny (marriage to more than one woman), which appears to have once been common in most of the world and is still found widely in some cultures.

Examples of monogamous in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But undoing the monogamous script, the socialization, is really, really difficult. —Daniel Bergner, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2024

Once bonded, gambel’s quail usually remain monogamous, although in some cases, the hen will leave the male to raise the brood, find a new mate, and nest a second time. —Phil Bourjaily, Field & Stream, 28 Mar. 2024

Beavers are meant to be together, the zoo said, noting that the creatures are social, monogamous and organize themselves in the wild as family units, building domed lodges of sticks and mud. —Martin Weil, Washington Post, 14 Feb. 2024

Dik-Dik These tiny antelope are socially monogamous and form deep attachments to their mate. —Devin Farmiloe, Scientific American, 14 Feb. 2024

For this, essentially, is what such a monogamous bond demands, an isolated union requiring the services of others whilst remaining estranged and aloof from physical or emotional attachment. —Nicholas Bell, SPIN, 14 Feb. 2024

Samples may not be fully representative, skewing the behaviors studied to heterosexual intercourse in monogamous couples. —Yuliya Klochan, Health, 20 Oct. 2023

Pisces thrive in monogamous relationships, and Elizabeth Taylor was famously married eight times, twice to Richard Burton. 19 of 49 Javier Bardem The Spanish actor was born on March 1, 1969. —Andrea Wurzburger, Peoplemag, 18 Feb. 2024

Janelle and Meri Brown also ended their marriages with Kody, resulting in the 54-year-old now maintaining a monogamous relationship with Robyn, 45. —Dory Jackson, Peoplemag, 23 Dec. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1770, in the meaning defined above