as in polygamy
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Recent Examples of polygyny
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
The transatlantic trade in enslaved people, which produced a dearth of men in West Africa, helps explain the comparatively high prevalence of polygyny there now.
—Stephanie H. Murray, The Atlantic, 26 Sep. 2024
His son has been married four times and resurrected the long-dead institution of polygyny.
—Tamara Loos, Foreign Affairs, 7 Dec. 2020
What does the contemporary West African practice of polygyny—one man, many wives—have to do with the trans-Atlantic slave trade?
—Tunku Varadarajan, wsj.com, 20 Apr. 2023
That is, some researchers have assumed that the prevalence of patrilocality and polygyny in relation to matrilocality and polyandry, combined with the structural fact that the X is disproportionately carried in females, can explain the differences in patterns of genetic variation.
—Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 7 Feb. 2010
Phylogenetic reconstructions suggest that marriages in early ancestral human societies probably had low levels of polygyny (low reproductive skew) and reciprocal exchanges between the families of marital partners (i.e., brideservice or brideprice).
—Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 29 Apr. 2011
In most mammals for polygyny this would mean that the X chromosome would be more diverse than the autosome, because the autosome is equally impacted by male and female demographics, while the X chromosome has a lesser impact from males.
—Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 16 Sep. 2012
Naturally the Islamists wish to legalize polygyny in Tunisia.
—Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 1 Feb. 2012
Jonathan Granoff, Newsweek, 29 Jan. 2025
The transatlantic trade in enslaved people, which produced a dearth of men in West Africa, helps explain the comparatively high prevalence of polygyny there now.
—Stephanie H. Murray, The Atlantic, 26 Sep. 2024
His son has been married four times and resurrected the long-dead institution of polygyny.
—Tamara Loos, Foreign Affairs, 7 Dec. 2020
What does the contemporary West African practice of polygyny—one man, many wives—have to do with the trans-Atlantic slave trade?
—Tunku Varadarajan, wsj.com, 20 Apr. 2023
That is, some researchers have assumed that the prevalence of patrilocality and polygyny in relation to matrilocality and polyandry, combined with the structural fact that the X is disproportionately carried in females, can explain the differences in patterns of genetic variation.
—Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 7 Feb. 2010
Phylogenetic reconstructions suggest that marriages in early ancestral human societies probably had low levels of polygyny (low reproductive skew) and reciprocal exchanges between the families of marital partners (i.e., brideservice or brideprice).
—Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 29 Apr. 2011
In most mammals for polygyny this would mean that the X chromosome would be more diverse than the autosome, because the autosome is equally impacted by male and female demographics, while the X chromosome has a lesser impact from males.
—Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 16 Sep. 2012
Naturally the Islamists wish to legalize polygyny in Tunisia.
—Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 1 Feb. 2012
Recent Examples of Synonyms for polygyny
Noun
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The Sister Wives star, 52, chronicles her journey within and away from Mormonism and polygamy in Sister Wife: A Memoir of Faith, Family and Finding Freedom, set to debut in September 2025.—
Rachel Raposas,
People.com,
4 Mar. 2025
-
The Brown family were members of the Apostolic United Brethren, a fundamentalist Mormon group that practices polygamy.—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
People.com,
4 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
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
-
Seeking Brother Husband's Kenya gets real with a virtual stranger about her domestic arrangement in this Sunday's episode of the TLC polyandry series.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
Peoplemag,
21 Apr. 2023
Noun
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Not of the bigamy, nor of baby Patricia, born on April 20, 1953, in Brooklyn, and baptized at St. Patrick’s Church in Bay Ridge three months later.—
Sarah Weinman,
Rolling Stone,
1 Dec. 2024
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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
Noun
-
Get Curious About Who Your Partner Is Now One of the biggest reasons marriages feel stale is the illusion of familiarity.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
6 Apr. 2025
-
The book, which takes place in both the 1950s and present day, tells the story of Hollywood star Evelyn Hugo and her seven marriages — including one big secret.—
Sharareh Drury,
People.com,
4 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The Origins Of The Fear Of Infidelity The nuclear family structure relies heavily on monogamy to function.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes,
16 Mar. 2025
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Your sustained outrage will probably chill an important conversation about fantasy and monogamy — hello, romance novels!—
Philip Galanes,
New York Times,
19 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Polygyny.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/polygyny. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.
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