polygyny

[puh-lij-uh-nee] /pəˈlɪdʒ ə ni/
noun
1.
the practice or condition of having more than one wife at one time.
2.
(among male animals) the habit or system of having two or more mates, either simultaneously or successively.
3.
(among social insects) the condition of having two or more functioning queens in a colony.
4.
Botany. the state or condition of having many pistils or styles.
Compare monogyny.
Origin
1770-80; < Greek polygýn(aios) having many wives (see poly-, gyn-) + -y3
Can be confused
bigamy, polyandry, polygamy, polygyny.
Examples from the web for polygyny
  • Experimental study of parental investment and polygyny in male blackbirds.
  • These provisions are consistent with the provisions covering the practice of polygyny.
British Dictionary definitions for polygyny

polygyny

/pəˈlɪdʒɪnɪ/
noun
1.
the practice or condition of being married to more than one wife at the same time Compare polygamy
2.
the practice in animals of a male mating with more than one female during one breeding season
3.
the condition in flowers of having many carpels
See polyandry
Derived Forms
polygynist, noun
polygynous, adjective
Word Origin
C18: from poly- + -gyny, from Greek gunē a woman
Word Origin and History for polygyny
n.

1780, "condition of having many wives," from poly- "many" (see poly-) + Greek gyne "woman, wife" (see queen). Related: Polygynous.