Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Having more than one spouse or mate at the same time: Used to describe a marriage system or an individual who is married to multiple partners concurrently.
   • Having several forms of gametoecia on the same plant: A botanical term describing a plant that bears different types of reproductive structures (e.g., hermaphroditic, male, and female flowers).

Usage Examples

• Describing a marriage system or individual:
  • The anthropologist studied a polygamous society where men could have multiple wives.
  • He was known to be polygamous, maintaining relationships with several partners simultaneously.
• Describing a botanical characteristic:
  • The plant is polygamous, producing both perfect and imperfect flowers on the same specimen.

Advanced Usage

• "Polygamous marriage": A specific type of marriage involving more than two partners.
  • Polygamous marriage is legally recognized in some cultures but prohibited in others.
• "Polygamous species": Used in biology to describe animal species where individuals mate with multiple partners.
  • Some bird species are socially monogamous but genetically polygamous.

Variants and Related Words

• Polygamy (n): The practice or condition of having more than one spouse at the same time.
  • Polygamy takes different forms, such as polygyny and polyandry.
• Polygynous (adj): Specifically referring to a man having multiple wives.
• Polyandrous (adj): Specifically referring to a woman having multiple husbands.

Synonyms

• Bigamous: Having two spouses simultaneously (a specific, often illegal, form of polygamy).
• Promiscuous: Having many sexual partners, often without long-term commitment (differs in connotation from the marital focus of "polygamous").

Related Phrases

• "To practice polygamy": To engage in a polygamous lifestyle or marriage system.
  • The community's elders were known to practice polygamy.

Related Idioms

• "To have more than one iron in the fire": This idiom, meaning to have multiple options or ventures, is conceptually related to managing multiple relationships but is not a direct synonym for "polygamous."

Adjective

1. having several forms of gametoecia on the same plant
2. having more than one mate at a time; used of relationships and individuals