polygamy

noun

po·​lyg·​a·​my pə-ˈli-gə-mē 

1

: marriage in which a spouse of either sex may have more than one mate at the same time compare polyandry, polygyny

2

: the state of being polygamous

polygamist

pə-ˈli-gə-mist 

noun

polygamize

pə-ˈli-gə-ˌmīz 

intransitive verb

Examples of polygamy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The show includes stories from survivors and ex-members of the polygamy-practicing group. — James Mercadante, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025

Members of The Work, like Zitting's parents, practice polygamy. — Charles Trepany, USA Today, 6 July 2026

The Kimbanguist Church prohibits polygamy, which is socially accepted in Congo. — Rodney Muhumuza, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026

Everyone’s favorite show about polygamy, Big Love, concluded its five-season run in 2011 with a major character death. — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 2 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Late Latin polygamia "frequent marriage," borrowed from Greek polygamía, from polýgamos "married several times, polygamous" + -ia -y entry 2

First Known Use

1538, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for polygamy

• bigamy

Medical Definition

polygamy

noun

po·​lyg·​a·​my -mē 

plural polygamies

: marriage in which a spouse of either sex may have more than one mate at the same time compare polyandry, polygyny

Legal Definition

polygamy

noun

po·​lyg·​a·​my pə-ˈli-gə-mē 

: the offense of having several and specifically more than two spouses at one time compare bigamy

polygamous

-məs 

adjective