bigamy

noun

big·​a·​my ˈbi-gə-mē How to pronounce bigamy (audio)
law : the act of entering into a marriage with one person while still legally married to another
was accused of bigamy
bigamist noun

Examples of bigamy in a Sentence

He was accused of bigamy.
Recent Examples on the Web Answer: Treason, murder, obstruction, theft, smuggling, piracy, mutiny, desertion, bigamy, dueling, accepting the land grant on the Ridge under false pretenses. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 23 July 2024 But with no-fault divorces, a couple could split amiably, without accusing or proving anything like bigamy or fraud or abandonment. Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2024 May 30: Future U.S. President Andrew Jackson shoots and kills American attorney Charles Dickinson in a duel after Dickinson accused Jackson's wife of bigamy. John Tufts, The Indianapolis Star, 8 Apr. 2024 Section 241 in Mississippi's state constitution specifies 10 felonies—murder, rape, bribery, theft, arson, obtaining money or goods under false pretense, perjury, forgery, embezzlement or bigamy—for which a conviction will result in a person losing their right to vote. Virginia Langmaid, CNN, 26 Aug. 2022 See all Example Sentences for bigamy 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bigamy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English bigamie, from Medieval Latin bigamia, from Latin bi- + Late Latin -gamia -gamy

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bigamy was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near bigamy

Cite this Entry

“Bigamy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bigamy. Accessed 30 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

bigamy

noun
big·​a·​my ˈbig-ə-mē How to pronounce bigamy (audio)
: the act of marrying one person while still legally married to another
bigamist noun
bigamous
-məs
adjective
bigamously adverb
Etymology

Middle English bigamie "bigamy," derived from Latin bi- "two" and Greek gamia "marriage"

Legal Definition

bigamy

noun
big·​a·​my ˈbi-gə-mē How to pronounce bigamy (audio)
: the crime of marrying someone while still legally married to someone else compare polygamy
bigamist noun
Etymology

Medieval Latin bigamia, ultimately from Latin bi- two + Greek gamos marriage

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