noun
monogamy
muh-NAH-guh-mee/məˈnɑːɡəmi/
The practice of having only one spouse or sexual partner at a time.
They both value monogamy and agree to remain sexually exclusive.
Etymology
“Single marriage” first meant marrying only once in a lifetime, then being married to only one person at a time. The selected sense applies that one-partner restriction to romantic or sexual relationships.
In context
their commitment to monogamy. Unlike many primate species where males may mate with multiple females, white gibbons typically form lifelong pair bonds.
More examples
- Their marriage is based on mutual respect and monogamy.
- Before dating seriously, we discuss what monogamy means to us.
- Serial monogamy involves successive relationships with only one partner at a time.
Forms
monogamous adjective — Having only one spouse or sexual partner.
monogamist noun — Someone who practices monogamy in intimate relationships.
Similar words
- exclusivity
- Describes a relationship limited to two partners, without specifying marriage.
- fidelity
- Emphasizes faithfulness to relationship commitments rather than the number of partners.