monogamy

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the practice or state of being married to only one person at a time

   Civil law in the country recognizes monogamy but not plural marriage.

2. 2
   noun

   a mating system in which an animal forms an exclusive or lasting pair bond with one partner

   Researchers found that social monogamy was common among the island's seabirds.

Through French monogamie and Late Latin monogamia from Greek monogamía, formed from mónos, 'single,' and gámos, 'marriage.' Biology later extended the marital term to exclusive or persistent animal pair bonds.

Topics