as in polyamory
the state or practice of being married to more than one person at the same time
Some cultures practice polygamy.
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Recent Examples of polygamy
His maternal grandmother raised him and his older brother, not entrusting them to one of his father’s three other wives (polygamy is common is South Sudanese culture).
—
Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Feb. 2025
In the recent episode of iHeart’s Rogue Energy podcast, Christine and Janelle Brown discussed their lives after leaving polygamy.
—Liza Esquibias, People.com, 17 Jan. 2025
In small towns, men often have multiple partners — both male and female — and polygamy is common.
—Adam Williams, NPR, 11 Jan. 2025
More than 70 years ago, Arizona took an aggressive step to crack down on polygamy with a mass arrest in Colorado City whose effects are still felt today.
—Jeremy Duda, Axios, 18 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for polygamy
Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Feb. 2025
In the recent episode of iHeart’s Rogue Energy podcast, Christine and Janelle Brown discussed their lives after leaving polygamy.
—Liza Esquibias, People.com, 17 Jan. 2025
In small towns, men often have multiple partners — both male and female — and polygamy is common.
—Adam Williams, NPR, 11 Jan. 2025
More than 70 years ago, Arizona took an aggressive step to crack down on polygamy with a mass arrest in Colorado City whose effects are still felt today.
—Jeremy Duda, Axios, 18 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for polygamy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for polygamy
Noun
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If polyamory feels like a fashionable subplot for Bechdel to tackle, this is only because heterosexuals have recently discovered in it a promising balm for yuppie malaise.—
Andrea Long Chu,
Vulture,
16 June 2025
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Rapp then recalled her experience trying polyamory in previous relationships.—
Ilana Kaplan,
People.com,
2 June 2025
Noun
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Betsey, 50, pleaded guilty to the felony bigamy charge in May, according to ABC Action News.—
Sean Neumann,
People.com,
4 Aug. 2025
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But in her pursuit of everything, Alicia risks losing it all – because while female bigamy may not be a crime, the fallout can be life-altering.—
Anna Marie de la Fuente,
Variety,
31 July 2025
Noun
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One particular enemy of Gauguin’s was Bishop Martin, a Catholic priest on Hiva Oa who did his best to stomp out local custom, forbidding tattooing, Polynesian dancing, and the customary practice of polyandry.—
Alexandra Schwartz,
New Yorker,
11 July 2025
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For generations, anthropologists have argued whether humans are evolved for monogamy or some other mating system, such as polygyny, polyandry or promiscuity.—
Nathan H. Lents,
Smithsonian Magazine,
11 Apr. 2025
Noun
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For generations, anthropologists have argued whether humans are evolved for monogamy or some other mating system, such as polygyny, polyandry or promiscuity.—
Nathan H. Lents,
Smithsonian Magazine,
11 Apr. 2025
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For generations, anthropologists have argued whether humans are evolved for monogamy or some other mating system, such as polygyny, polyandry or promiscuity.—
Jonathan Granoff,
Newsweek,
29 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Polygamy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/polygamy. Accessed 7 Sep. 2025.
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