as in polyamory
the state or practice of being married to more than one person at the same time
Some cultures practice polygamy.
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Recent Examples of polygamy
The show includes stories from survivors and ex-members of the polygamy-practicing group.
—
James Mercadante, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
In July 2025, Uganda’s courts swiftly dismissed a petition challenging the legality of polygamy, citing the protection of religious and cultural freedom.
—David W. Lawson, The Conversation, 21 Oct. 2025
Some people still believe, incorrectly, the church encourages polygamy.
—Dave Boucher, Freep.com, 2 Oct. 2025
They were settled by members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, who were known for practicing polygamy.
—Stephanie Innes, AZCentral.com, 26 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for polygamy
James Mercadante, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
In July 2025, Uganda’s courts swiftly dismissed a petition challenging the legality of polygamy, citing the protection of religious and cultural freedom.
—David W. Lawson, The Conversation, 21 Oct. 2025
Some people still believe, incorrectly, the church encourages polygamy.
—Dave Boucher, Freep.com, 2 Oct. 2025
They were settled by members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, who were known for practicing polygamy.
—Stephanie Innes, AZCentral.com, 26 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for polygamy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for polygamy
Noun
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But for now, many families still face legal hurdles even in places where polyamory is becoming widely accepted.—
Sonja Sharp,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2026
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Might seem like an outlier in the current array of articles and books about open marriages and polyamory, and at first glance the line of distinction between the two worlds, much like the division between blue and white tickets, seems almost old-fashioned.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Leslie Williams, 62, was taken into custody at the sprawling retirement center, The Villages, on an outstanding warrant out of Georgia tied to a bigamy charge, according to the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office in Florida.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
27 Apr. 2026
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The state bigamy law won’t necessarily bar West Hollywood from registering relationships inside its two-mile-square borders.—
Sonja Sharp,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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One particular enemy of Gauguin’s was Bishop Martin, a Catholic priest on Hiva Oa who did his best to stomp out local custom, forbidding tattooing, Polynesian dancing, and the customary practice of polyandry.—
Alexandra Schwartz,
New Yorker,
11 July 2025
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For generations, anthropologists have argued whether humans are evolved for monogamy or some other mating system, such as polygyny, polyandry or promiscuity.—
Nathan H. Lents,
Smithsonian Magazine,
11 Apr. 2025
Noun
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In Queen Mother, Farmer takes a clear-eyed look at Moore’s foibles, noting her absenteeism during her son’s formative years, her embrace of patriarchal hierarchy in Black communities, and her exhortations for Black women to embrace polygyny to facilitate nation building.—
Dara T. Mathis,
The Atlantic,
16 Dec. 2025
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In short, there remain multiple ways polygyny can be harmful.—
David W. Lawson,
The Conversation,
21 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Polygamy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/polygamy. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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