exogamy

What is another word for exogamy? Here is its meaning, with related words and examples.

Noun — Marriage or mating with someone from a tribe or group outside one's own, often required by custom or law.

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

Marriage or mating with someone from a tribe or group outside one's own, often required by custom or law.

“Exogamy was practised in many traditional societies to strengthen ties between different groups.”

Opposites

endogamy

2. noun biology

In biology, the fusion of two gametes that come from unrelated organisms.

“Exogamy occurs when the fusing gametes are genetically unrelated.”

Opposites

endogamy

How to use exogamy

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

practise exogamy a rule of exogamy exogamy and endogamy exogamous marriage

It is a specialist term used mainly in anthropology and biology rather than everyday speech.

Etymology

Exogamy is built from the prefix exo-, meaning outside, and the suffix -gamy, relating to marriage or union. The term was coined by the British lawyer and ethnologist John Ferguson McLennan in his work Studies in Ancient History.

Full origin of exogamy →

Frequently asked questions

What does exogamy mean?

It refers to marrying or mating outside one's own tribe, clan or group, and in biology to the fusion of unrelated gametes.

Is exogamy the opposite of endogamy?

Yes, endogamy is marriage or mating within one's own group, so it is treated as the antonym of exogamy.

Who first used the word exogamy?

It was coined by the British lawyer and ethnologist John Ferguson McLennan in his book Studies in Ancient History.

People also searched

endogamy

Nearby words

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