polyandry

UK: /ˈpɒlɪˌændrɪ/

US: /ˈpɑliˌændri, ˌpɑliˈændri/

US: (pol′ē an′drē, pol′ē an′-)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

pol•y•an•dry /ˈpɑliˌændri, ˌpɑliˈændri/  n. [uncountable]

1. the practice of having more than one husband at the same time.

See -andro-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

pol•y•an•dry  (pol′ē an′drē, pol′ē an′-), n. 

1. Anthropology the practice or condition of having more than one husband at one time. Cf. monandry (def. 1).
2. Animal Behavior, Zoology (among female animals) the habit or system of having two or more mates, either simultaneously or successively.
3. Botany the state of being polyandrous.

• Greek polyandría. See poly-, -andry
• 1770–80

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

polyandry / ˈpɒlɪˌændrɪ/ noun

1. the practice or condition of being married to more than one husband at the same time
   Compare polygamy
2. the practice in animals of a female mating with more than one male during one breeding season
3. the condition in flowers of having a large indefinite number of stamens

See polygynyEtymology: 18th Century: from Greek poluandria, from poly- + -andria from anēr man

ˌpolyˈandrous adjective