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

Bishops in Africa, where some communities practice polygamy, had asked the Holy See for guidance on the issue. —Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Nov. 2025

The history of the thing is interesting but vague—a general shift towards monogamy started about three and a half million years ago, but most human societies (around 85% of them) have permitted polygamy too. —Eva Wiseman, Vogue, 23 Nov. 2025

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

In July 2025, Uganda’s courts swiftly dismissed a petition challenging the legality of polygamy, citing the protection of religious and cultural freedom. —David W. Lawson, The Conversation, 21 Oct. 2025

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