Polygamy

Polygamy refers to the practice of marriage to more than one person at the same time. A polygamous relationship can include any combination of genders but tends to have a central individual with multiple partners. Related terms are polygyny, referring to one male individual having multiple female partners, and polyandry, referring to one female individual having multiple male partners. For the most part, the social understanding of polygamy is in regard to polygyny, and the two terms are often used interchangeably. Bigamy refers to the act of marrying a person while being legally married to another and is illegal in the United States. Polygamy is accepted in many cultures and religions across the globe and is not uncommon despite many legal ramifications associated with the ...