polygyny
UK[pəˈlɪdʒɪni]US[pəˈlɪdʒɪni]
n
The practice or custom of having more than one wife or female mate at the same time.
Morpheme Breakdown
poly
gyny
poly
many
gyny
woman
Etymology
The term 'polygyny' is a modern scientific formation directly from ancient Greek elements. It combines poly- (many) and gynē (woman), creating a literal meaning of "many women." This construction entered English in the late 18th century through anthropological and sociological discourse to precisely describe a specific form of marriage structure. The logic is transparent: the word's components directly name the key characteristic of the practice—a marital union involving one man and multiple women. It stands in contrast to 'polyandry' (many men) and is a subtype under the broader category of 'polygamy' (many marriages).
Analysis
Structure: poly (many) + gyny (woman)
- poly: From Greek poly-, meaning "much, many". A combining form acting as a prefix.
- gyny: From Greek gynē, meaning "woman, female". A combining form acting as a root.
Examples
Polygyny was a common marital arrangement in many ancient societies.
The anthropologist studied the social dynamics within communities that practice polygyny.
Some species of birds exhibit polygyny, where one male mates with several females.