monogamy

noun

mo·​nog·​a·​my mə-ˈnä-gə-mē How to pronounce monogamy (audio)
1
a
: the state or practice of having only one sexual partner at a time
young couples who practice monogamy
b
: the state or custom of being married to only one person at a time
c
zoology : the condition or practice of having a single mate during a period of time
Monogamy is common among birds.
2
archaic : the practice of marrying only once during a lifetime

Examples of monogamy in a Sentence

young couples who practice monogamy Monogamy is common among birds.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Watch Shiva Baby on Netflix Trainwreck Making her film debut, Amy Schumer (who also wrote the screenplay) takes the lead in this 2015 romantic dramedy as Amy Townsend, a carefree, hedonistic magazine writer raised to believe that monogamy is unrealistic. James Mercadante, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025 How tiresome monogamy, married or otherwise, always seemed to her. Judy Berman, Time, 15 Aug. 2025 Commitment, monogamy and trust have often been framed as mechanisms to preserve sameness and predictability — promising a kind of order that keeps chaos at bay. Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 27 July 2025 Global monogamy is overrated, and there’s something to be said for dating around. Rachel Marsden, Hartford Courant, 3 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for monogamy

Word History

Etymology

French monogamie, from Late Latin monogamia, from Greek, from monogamos monogamous, from mon- + gamos marriage, from gamein to marry

First Known Use

1612, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of monogamy was in 1612

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Monogamy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/monogamy. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

monogamy

noun
mo·​nog·​a·​my mə-ˈnäg-ə-mē How to pronounce monogamy (audio)
: marriage with only one person at a time
monogamous adjective

Medical Definition

monogamy

noun
mo·​nog·​a·​my -mē How to pronounce monogamy (audio)
plural monogamies
: the state or custom of being married to one person at a time or of having only one mate at a time
monogamous adjective
also monogamic
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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