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Meaning & use

polygynous

adjective·Advancedtechnical

Last updated

UK/pəˈlɪdʒɪnəs/
US/pəˈlɪdʒənəs/

Meanings

  1. adjectivenot comparablebiologytechnical

    Of a mating system in animals in which one male pairs with several females in the same breeding season.

    Grammar: Describes a system or species and is not usually graded: a polygynous species, not a very polygynous species.

    Patterns

    • a polygynous species
    • polygynous mating

    Elephant seals are polygynous, and a single dominant male may mate with dozens of females.

    Red deer are a classic polygynous species, with stags guarding harems.

    Biologists study how polygynous birds divide their time between mates.

  2. adjectivenot comparabletechnical

    Of a marriage practice or society in which a man may have more than one wife at the same time.

    Grammar: Used in anthropology and history: a polygynous marriage.

    Patterns

    • a polygynous society
    • a polygynous marriage

    The anthropologist studied a polygynous community in West Africa.

    Polygynous households were once common in the region.

    Laws in most countries do not recognize a polygynous marriage.

Common combinations

polygynous species
The lion is not a strictly polygynous species.
polygynous mating system
A polygynous mating system favors large, strong males.
polygynous society
A polygynous society may have unequal numbers of marriages.
polygynous marriage
A polygynous marriage is illegal in most places.

Synonyms and how they differ

polygamous
Polygamous is the broader term for having several spouses and can include a woman with several husbands, whereas polygynous means one man with several wives.
harem-keeping
Harem-keeping is an informal way to describe a male guarding several females and applies only to animals.

Opposites

monogamous

Word family

polygyny noun
the system of one male having several mates
polygynist noun
a man who has several wives
polygamy noun
having more than one spouse
polyandry noun
one female with several male mates

Commonly confused: polygynous or polyandrous? polygynous or polygamous?

polygynous vs polyandrous

Polyandrous describes a female with several male partners, the reverse of polygynous.

polygynous vs polygamous

Polygamous is broader and does not say which sex has multiple partners.

Practice

A biologist describes a species where one male mates with many females. Which adjective fits?

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