polygamy

/pəˈlɪɡəmi/
noun
  1. The practice or custom of having more than one spouse at the same time.
    • Polygamy was common in many ancient cultures.
    • She wrote a book about the history of polygamy in the Middle East.
    • The law in this country prohibits polygamy.
  2. (in animals) The condition of having more than one mate during a breeding season.
    • The researcher studied polygamy in a population of frogs.
    • In many insects, polygamy helps increase genetic diversity.
    • Polygamy is common among certain mammals like lions and deer.
Antonyms