noun
polygamy
puh-LIHG-uh-mee
noun
1
The practice or condition of having more than one spouse at the same time.
"Polygamy is illegal in most Western countries but practiced legally elsewhere."
How to Use Polygamy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBeing married to more than one person at once.
Common mistake
Polygyny (one husband, many wives) and polyandry (one wife, many husbands) are more specific forms of polygamy.
Easily confused with
polygyny
monogamy →
Word Forms
polygamies plural
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Etymology
From Greek polugamía, from polús ("many") and gámos ("marriage").