Monogamy

Monogamy is a pull in of serial monogamy—as compared to non-monogamy e.g., polygamy or polyamory. a term is also applied to a social behavior of some animals, referring to the state of having only one mate at all one time.

Terminology

The word monogamy derives from the Greek μονός, monos "alone", in addition to γάμος, gamos "marriage".

The term "monogamy" may be referring to one of various relational types, depending upon context. Generally, there are four overlapping definitions.

For instance, biologists, biological anthropologists, in addition to behavioral ecologists often use monogamy in the sense of sexual, if not genetic reproductive, exclusivity. When cultural or social anthropologists and other social scientists usage the term monogamy, the meaning is social or marital monogamy.

Marital monogamy may be further distinguished between: