monogamous
adjective
mo·nog·a·mous
mə-ˈnä-gə-məs 
variants
or less commonly monogamic
: 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
Doug HandBut 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
Kim PainterThere 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
Frank Pittman
monogamously
adverb
Pairs usually mate monogamously for life …
—Vincenzo Penteriani et al.
Vincenzo Penteriani et al.
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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
The Liberty Action Network and Natural Family Foundation are pushing for recognition of straight, cisgendered, monogamous, couples with children.
—Laura A. Bischoff, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
The couple is depicted as both monogamous and supportive, which is a refreshing rarity in mobster movies.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 19 Mar. 2025
The same oxytocin and vasopressin systems responsible for long-term romantic bonding in monogamous species are also activated in human relationships, with observable effects on neural regions like the anterior cingulate cortex, ventral pallidum and insula.
—Ximena Araya-Fischel, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
But among those that do nest and provide their own parental care, such as the three species of anis, most form monogamous pair-bonds.
—Nathan H. Lents, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Apr. 2025
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Laura A. Bischoff, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
The couple is depicted as both monogamous and supportive, which is a refreshing rarity in mobster movies.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 19 Mar. 2025
The same oxytocin and vasopressin systems responsible for long-term romantic bonding in monogamous species are also activated in human relationships, with observable effects on neural regions like the anterior cingulate cortex, ventral pallidum and insula.
—Ximena Araya-Fischel, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
But among those that do nest and provide their own parental care, such as the three species of anis, most form monogamous pair-bonds.
—Nathan H. Lents, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for monogamous
Cite this Entry
“Monogamous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/monogamous. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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