polygyny

[ puh-lij-uh-nee ]
/ pəˈlɪdʒ ə ni /

noun

the practice or condition of having more than one wife at one time.
(among male animals) the habit or system of having two or more mates, either simultaneously or successively.
(among social insects) the condition of having two or more functioning queens in a colony.
Botany. the state or condition of having many pistils or styles.
Compare monogyny.

Origin of polygyny

1770–80; < Greek polygýn(aios) having many wives (see poly-, gyn-) + -y3

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH polygyny

bigamy polyandry polygamy polygyny

Example sentences from the Web for polygyny

British Dictionary definitions for polygyny

polygyny
/ (pəˈlɪdʒɪnɪ) /

noun

the practice or condition of being married to more than one wife at the same time Compare polygamy
the practice in animals of a male mating with more than one female during one breeding season
the condition in flowers of having many carpels
See polyandry

Derived forms of polygyny

polygynist, noun polygynous, adjective

Word Origin for polygyny

C18: from poly- + -gyny, from Greek gunē a woman