What does polygynist mean?
A polygynist is a man who has more than one wife at the same time. The term is narrower than polygamist: polygamy can include any marriage involving multiple spouses, while polygyny specifically describes a man with more than one wife. Its counterpart is polyandrist, a woman with more than one husband. The word is most often encountered in discussions of religion, customary family structures, law, and anthropology, where it identifies a particular role within a larger marriage system. In ordinary conversation, a polygynist husband may convey the meaning more directly, especially for readers unfamiliar with the specialized term. Polygynist is not synonymous with every polygamist, nor does it refer to a man who has had several wives sequentially rather than simultaneously.
nounA man who has more than one wife at the same time. The term specifically identifies a man within a polygynous marriage arrangement.
- A man who has more than one wife at the same time.
"The polygynist defended his traditional family structure, which included three wives and their children."
"As a polygynist, he divided his time among his wives and their children."
"The sociologist interviewed polygynists in several rural communities."
The regular plural is used when referring to men who have more than one wife.
"The study compared polygynists with monogamous husbands."
Polygynist names one side of a specific marital arrangement: it is to a man with several wives what polyandrist is to a woman with several husbands.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does polygynist come from?
Polygynist was formed within the English vocabulary of marriage and family organization. It combines the prefix poly-, meaning “many,” with a form related to Greek gyne, “woman” or “wife,” and the suffix -ist, denoting a person who practices or is characterized by something. The underlying noun polygyny has the same basic elements and refers to the custom or state of a man having more than one wife.
Related word forms
How polygynist is actually used
The term is relatively uncommon outside discussions of marriage, religion, law, and anthropology. It is narrower than the more general term polygamist and should not be used for a woman with multiple husbands; that person is a polyandrist. The word may appear in neutral scholarly contexts but can sound unfamiliar or archaic in general conversation.
Easily confused with polygynist
A polygamist is someone involved in a marriage in which at least one person has more than one spouse, whereas a polygynist specifically refers to a man with more than one wife.
A polygynist has more than one wife, while a polyandrist has more than one husband at the same time.