Polygamy is the practice of being married to more than one person at the same time. It is not to be confused with polyamory, which involves having multiple romantic partners but does not necessarily include marriage. Polygamy specifically requires that the relationships involve marriage. There are different forms of polygamy:
- Polygyny: One man married to multiple wives. This is the most common form worldwide.
- Polyandry: One woman married to multiple husbands.
- Polygynandry: Multiple husbands married to multiple wives, sometimes referred to as group marriage.
Polygamy is practiced in various cultures and religions around the world, but it is illegal in countries like the United States, where only monogamous marriages (one spouse at a time) are legally recognized. In some places where polygamy is illegal, individuals may still have spouse-like relationships with multiple partners without legal marriage. The term polygamy comes with different social and legal implications depending on the cultural or legal context. For example, in the U.S., polygamy mainly refers to polygyny and is considered against the law because it may violate principles of equality and is associated with various social concerns. In summary, polygamy is the state of marriage involving multiple spouses simultaneously, with polygyny being the most prevalent form globally. It contrasts with monogamy, where a person has only one spouse at a time. Polygamy is distinct from polyamory, which involves multiple consensual romantic relationships without necessarily involving marriage. This definition is supported by detailed explanations from sources including BetterHelp and Wikipedia.
