polygyny

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. The state or practice of having several wives at the same time; plurality of wives; marriage to several wives.
  2. The condition of an ant colony that has multiple egg-laying queens.
  3. Synonym of polygamy.

Pronunciation

/pəˈlɪd͡ʒ.ɪ.ni/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-polygyny.wav

Word forms

polygyny polygynies

Etymology

From Ancient Greek πολύ (polú, “many”) + γυνή (gunḗ, “woman, wife”). By surface analysis, poly- + -gyny.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Derived words

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