Definition and Pronunciation
Polyandry is a form of marriage in which one woman is married to two or more men at the same time. It is one type of polygamy and has historically been practiced in a small number of cultures and communities. Today, polyandry is relatively rare and is not legally recognized in most countries.
Pronunciation: pol-ee-AN-dree
Easy Explanation
Polyandry is a marriage system in which one woman has multiple husbands simultaneously. It differs from relationships involving multiple partners because polyandry specifically refers to a marital arrangement.
Historically, polyandry has existed in certain regions, often for cultural, social, economic, or environmental reasons. One well-known form is fraternal polyandry, in which brothers marry the same woman.
Grammatical Formation
- Part of speech: Noun
- Related adjective: Polyandrous
- Related noun: Polyandrist (less common; a person who practices or is involved in polyandry)
- Related terms: Polygamy, polygyny, monogamy
Word Comparisons
Polyandry vs. Polygyny
Polyandry is a marriage involving one woman and multiple husbands. Polygyny is a marriage involving one man and multiple wives.
Polyandry vs. Polygamy
Polygamy is the general term for marriage involving more than two spouses. Polyandry is one specific form of polygamy.
Polyandry vs. Polyamory
Polyandry is a marital system. Polyamory refers to consensualromantic relationships involving more than two people and does not necessarily involve marriage.
Polyandry vs. Monogamy
Monogamy is a marriage or relationship between two people only. Polyandry involves one woman being married to multiple men simultaneously.
Connotations
The term polyandry has a neutral anthropological and legal meaning. It is commonly used in sociology, anthropology, history, family law, and studies of human relationships.
Meaning with Prepositions
Polyandry in
Example: Polyandry has been documented in a small number of societies.
Polyandry among
Example: Researchers have studied polyandry among certain cultural groups.
Polyandry as
Example: Some historians describe polyandry as an adaptive social practice in particular environments.
Polyandry within
Example: Polyandry has existed within a limited number of traditional communities.
Real-Life Examples
Anthropologists have documented polyandry in parts of the Himalayas, including communities in Tibet, Nepal, and northern India, where it sometimes helped preserve family land by reducing the division of inherited property. Although these practices continue in a few communities, they are uncommon worldwide and are not legally recognized in most legal systems.
Synonyms
There is no exact synonym for polyandry, but related terms include:
- Polyandrous marriage
- Multiple-husband marriage (descriptive phrase)
- Fraternal polyandry (specific type)
Antonyms
- Monogamy
- Polygyny (contrasting form of polygamy)
Related Terms
- Polygamy
- Polygyny
- Monogamy
- Polyamory
- Marriage
- Husband
- Wife
- Family
- Relationship
- Kinship
- Anthropology
- Culture
- Family law
- Human relationships
- Human sexuality
Common Collocations
- Polyandry
- Fraternal polyandry
- Polyandrous marriage
- Practice of polyandry
- Traditional polyandry
- Polyandry in anthropology
- Polyandry in history
- Polyandry and inheritance
- Polyandry and family structure
- Polyandry research
- Polyandry customs
- Polyandry societies
Idiomatic and Figurative Usage
Polyandry is an anthropological and legal term. It has no established idiomatic or figurative meaning.
Sample Sentences
- Polyandry is one form of polygamy.
- In a polyandrous marriage, one woman has multiple husbands.
- Polyandry has historically been practiced in a small number of societies.
- Fraternal polyandry involves brothers sharing one wife.
- Most countries do not legally recognize polyandry.
- Anthropologists study polyandry as part of family and kinship systems.
- Marriage customs differ across cultures and historical periods.
- Understanding polyandry helps explain the diversity of human societies.
Connection to Sexuality
Polyandry is a form of marriage and family structure, not a sexual orientation or gender identity. It concerns the legal, cultural, or social organization of marriage rather than whom a person is attracted to.
Understanding polyandry helps distinguish between marital systems, relationship structures, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Studying diverse forms of marriage contributes to a broader understanding of culture, family life, and human sexuality.
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