monogamous

/məˈnɑgəməs/

/məˈnɒgəməs/

Other forms: monogamously

Use the adjective monogamous to describe a person or animal who has only one mate. Beavers are one of only a few mammals that are truly monogamous, raising their young and living with a single mate.

There are many cultures in the world that aren't typically monogamous, meaning that men may have more than one wife or women more than one husband. However, most western, industrialized countries have made being monogamous the only culturally acceptable choice, and most American kids grow up imagining they'll marry one person and stay with that husband or wife until death. Monogamous comes from the Greek word monogamos, "marrying only once."

Definitions of monogamous

1. adjective

   (used of relationships and of individuals) having one mate
   “monogamous marriage”

   “monogamous for life”

   synonyms:

   monandrous

   having only one husband at a time

   monogynic, monogynous

   having one head or chief wife at a time (along with concubines)

   antonyms:

   polygamous

   having more than one mate at a time; used of relationships and individuals

   bigamous

   of illegal marriage to a second person while legally married to a first

   polyandrous

   having more than one husband at a time

   polygynous

   having more than one wife at a time