What does polyandrous mean?
Polyandrous is an adjective describing a situation in which one woman or female animal has more than one husband or male mate. In anthropology, it refers to marriage arrangements in which a woman may be married to several men; in zoology, it can describe species in which females mate with multiple males. The word is formal and specialized rather than a general term for having several romantic relationships, a distinction also marked by “polyamorous,” which does not specify the sex of the person with multiple partners and does not necessarily imply marriage. Polyandry is the noun for the practice or system, while “polyandric” is an equivalent adjective. The term is useful because it names a social and biological arrangement that differs from the more frequently discussed polygynous pattern, where one male has multiple female partners. In human societies, the arrangement may involve simultaneous or sequential husbands, and its precise form varies culturally and historically.
adjectiveHaving more than one husband or male mate; relating to or characterized by polyandry.
- Having more than one husband or male mate; of or relating to polyandry.
"The anthropologist studied a polyandrous community in which a woman could be married to several men."
"In that polyandrous community, a woman might be married to several men."
"The biologist noted that the species is polyandrous, with each female mating with multiple males."
A polyandrous society can have several husbands for one woman—the mirror image of the more familiar polygynous pattern.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does polyandrous come from?
The word is based on Greek poluandros, a compound formed from polus, meaning “many,” and anēr, genitive andros, meaning “man” or “husband.” English uses the term especially in anthropology to describe marriage systems and in biology to describe mating arrangements involving more than one male mate. Its relatives include polyandry, monandrous, diandrous, and androgynous.
Related word forms
How polyandrous is actually used
Formal and technical, chiefly used in anthropology, sociology, and biology. The term identifies a specific number and pattern of husbands or male mates rather than a general pattern of multiple romantic relationships.
Easily confused with polyandrous
Polyandrous specifies that a woman or female animal has more than one husband or male mate, whereas polyamorous means having multiple partners without specifying the sex of the person involved.
Polyandrous describes females having multiple male mates, while polygynous describes a male having multiple female mates.