polygyny Hear it!

polygyny Definition

po·lyg·yny (pə lij′ə nē, pō-)

noun

  1. the state or practice of having two or more wives at the same time
  2. Bot. the fact of having many styles or pistils
  3. Zool. the mating of a male animal with more than one female

Etymology: < ModL polygynia < poly- + Gr gynē, woman, wife: see gyno-

polygyny Related Forms
po·lyg′y·nous (--nəs) adjective
polygyny Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • show: Humpbacks seem to show male dominance polygyny and may compete for access to mature females.

Preposition: in

  • bunting: Female reproductive success, provisioning of nestlings and polygyny in corn buntings.