polygyny
noun
- a type of relationship in which the male partner may have multiple female spouses at the same time
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /pəˈlɪd͡ʒ.ɪ.ni/
noun
Etymology: From Ancient Greek πολύ (polú, “many”) + γυνή (gunḗ, “woman, wife”). By surface analysis, poly- + -gyny.
- The state or practice of a man having more than one wife at a time; plurality of wives; marriage between one man and multiple wives.
“We may infer that in most cases where polygyny exists, monogamy co-exists to a greater extent, and in all other cases to a considerable extent.”
- The condition of an ant colony that has multiple egg-laying queens.
- Synonym of polygamy.