What does monandry mean?
Monandry is a marriage system in which one man has two or more wives, making it a specific form of polygyny. Each wife belongs to a different family or marriage unit, and the husbands and their respective wives are not ordinarily regarded as married to one another. The term is chiefly used in anthropology and the historical study of marriage, where it contrasts with polyandry, in which one woman has multiple husbands, and monogamy, in which each person has one spouse. In zoology, monandry can also refer to a mating system in which one male mates with several females, though polygyny is the broader and more commonly used term in that context. Monandry is a precise but uncommon word. It is useful when discussing forms of marriage that allow multiple wives without treating every broad instance of polygyny as a marital institution.
A form of marriage in which one man has two or more wives, with each wife belonging to a different family or marriage unit.
"The chief maintained a household organized around monandry."
This is the principal anthropological and historical use of the term.
A mating system in which one male mates with several females.
"The species exhibits monandry, with the largest male monopolizing mating opportunities."
This zoological sense overlaps with polygyny but specifically emphasizes a single successful male.
The plural is used when referring to multiple distinct marriage systems or instances of the practice.
"The study compares monandries found in different societies."
Monandry and polyandry are mirror-image systems: both permit several marriages, but only monandry gives the spouses multiple husbands or wives of the same sex.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does monandry come from?
Monandry was formed in the 19th century from Greek mono-, meaning 'one', and -andry, meaning 'a system characterized by husbands or a male spouse'. The second element comes from the same Greek root found in words such as polyandry and androgyny. The word entered English primarily as a specialized term for a marriage system involving one husband and multiple wives.
Related word forms
How monandry is actually used
The word is uncommon and specialized. In the study of marriage and social organization, it is distinguished from the broader term polygyny; in zoology, it may describe a reproductive pattern without implying marriage.
Easily confused with monandry
Polygyny broadly denotes one male mating with multiple females, whereas monandry more specifically refers to a marriage arrangement in which one man has multiple wives.
Monandry involves one man with multiple wives, while polyandry involves one woman with multiple husbands.