polygyny

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for polygyny
Noun
  • 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
  • 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
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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Cruise’s three high-profile marriages — to Mimi Rogers, Nicole Kidman, and Katie Holmes — all ended in divorce.
    Skyler Trepel, EW.com, 16 Feb. 2025
  • Other Republican lawmakers said their opposition to the marriages was a moral issue.
    Ian Max Stevenson, Idaho Statesman, 13 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • And this makes sense because monogamy is a potent equalizer between the sexes.
    Jonathan Granoff, Newsweek, 29 Jan. 2025
  • The crisis of monogamy, the possibility of having more honest, effective relationships, but without judging anyone.
    John Hopewell, Variety, 20 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near polygyny

Cite this Entry

“Polygyny.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/polygyny. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!