polyandry
What is another word for polyandry? Here is its meaning, with related words and examples.
Noun — Polyandry is a form of marriage in which a woman has two or more husbands at the same time.
Antonyms
monandry
polygyny
How to use polyandry
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
practise polyandry
a form of polyandry
polyandry among birds
cases of polyandry
This is a formal, mostly academic term used in anthropology, zoology and botany rather than everyday speech.
Etymology
Polyandry is formed from the prefix poly-, meaning many, joined to the ending -andry, which relates to men or males. Put together, the word originally pointed to a woman having many husbands.
Full origin of polyandry →Frequently asked questions
What does polyandry mean?
It most commonly means a form of marriage where one woman has more than one husband at the same time.
Is polyandry the same as polygamy?
Polyandry is one type of polygamy, specifically the type involving one wife and multiple husbands, rather than the general term for having multiple spouses.
Does polyandry only apply to humans?
No. Zoologists also use polyandry to describe a female animal mating with several males, and botanists use it to describe a flower with many stamens.
