monogamous

adjective

mo·​nog·​a·​mous mə-ˈnä-gə-məs 

variants or less commonly monogamic

ˌmä-nə-ˈga-mik 

: relating to, characterized by, or practicing monogamy : having only one mate, spouse, or sexual partner at one time

… the beaver has several qualities that endear it to people: it is monogamous and lives in a family unit; it is gentle and clean; it is absolutely industrious.

—Doug Hand

But for women who are not at risk for STDs because they are in mutually monogamous relationships, modern IUDs can be safe and very effective.

—Kim Painter

There are many kinds of infidelity, but here we are talking about a sexual infidelity in monogamous marriage or a relationship that is tantamount to marriage.

—Frank Pittman

monogamously adverb

Pairs usually mate monogamously for life …

—Vincenzo Penteriani et al.

Did you know?

What is the Difference Between monogamous and Polygamous?

American marriage is by law monogamous; people are permitted to have only one spouse at a time. There are cultures with laws that permit marriage to more than one person at a time, or polygamy. Although the term polygamy may refer to polyandry (marriage to more than one man), it is more often used as a synonym for polygyny (marriage to more than one woman), which appears to have once been common in most of the world and is still found widely in some cultures.

Examples of monogamous in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Being part of a throuple is similar to a monogamous relationship, according to Amani, who identifies as bisexual. —Abigail Adams, People.com, 14 Feb. 2025

Amani, who identifies as bisexual, says that being a part of a throuple is similar to any other monogamous relationship. —Vivian Kwarm, New York Daily News, 14 Feb. 2025

Vasopressin, on the other hand, is linked to behaviors that encourage long-term, monogamous relationships. —Jennifer Borresen, USA TODAY, 14 Feb. 2025

This is because sexes that are indistinguishable seems to correlate with monogamy, and the Barbary macaques are the opposite of monogamous. —Jonathan Granoff, Newsweek, 29 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1770, in the meaning defined above