noun
polygamy
puh-LIG-uh-mee/pəˈlɪɡəmi/
Being married to more than one spouse at the same time.
The wedding portrait depicts polygamy, with one groom and two brides.
Etymology
The roots express “many marriages,” which in this sense means having multiple spouses at once. The marriage component does not specify whether those spouses are husbands or wives.
In context
there's polygamy that we might think of here in this country where somebody actually does marry multiple wives
More examples
- The law addressed marriages involving polygamy.
- Her research distinguished polygamy from a series of successive marriages.
- The documentary discussed different cultural views of polygamy.
Forms
polygamy
polygamous adjective — involving multiple spouses at once
Similar words
- bigamy
- Bigamy concerns marrying while already married; polygamy names the practice or state of having multiple spouses.
- polyandry
- Polyandry specifically involves multiple husbands; polygamy covers multiple spouses more generally.