What does polyandry mean?
Polyandry names a form of marriage in which a woman has two or more husbands, either at the same time or through recognized successive marriages. The word is principally used by anthropologists and historians when comparing kinship systems and marriage customs across societies. It is not equivalent to polygyny, which refers to a man having multiple wives, nor does it always describe a specific family arrangement such as fraternal polyandry, in which brothers share a wife. Because polyandry belongs primarily to specialist and academic writing, it may sound unfamiliar even when a discussion concerns cultures with long-standing marriage practices. Understanding the term is useful because it challenges the assumption that marriage always joins one man with one woman. It also helps distinguish societies in which a woman has several husbands from those in which a man has several wives, a distinction that can otherwise be easily blurred.
nounA form of marriage in which a woman has two or more husbands. The term is chiefly used in anthropology and the study of social institutions.
- A form of marriage in which a woman has two or more husbands, simultaneously or as part of a recognized succession of marriages.
"The anthropologist examined a Himalayan community organized around fraternal polyandry."
"The report describes polyandry in several Himalayan communities."
"Her study compares fraternal polyandry with other customary forms of marriage."
The plural is rarely needed because the word normally appears in general or comparative discussion.
"The study examines polyandries documented in several societies."
Polyandry reverses the familiar equation of marriage with one man and one woman: here, one woman may be the shared wife of several husbands.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does polyandry come from?
Polyandry was formed in English from the Greek combining elements poly-, meaning “many,” and andr-, meaning “man.” The latter element comes from Greek anēr, “man,” in its combining form andros. The word entered English in the 19th century as an English formation modeled on Greek and Latin-derived terms, and it has long been associated with the comparative study of marriage and kinship systems.
Related word forms
How polyandry is actually used
This is a specialized, chiefly anthropological term rather than everyday vocabulary. Fraternal polyandry, in which brothers marry the same woman, is a well-known form, but polyandry should not automatically be assumed to have that structure.
Easily confused with polyandry
Polyandry describes a marriage system in which a woman has more than one husband, whereas polygyny describes one in which a man has more than one wife.