digamy: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
RareFormal, Technical (legal, religious, sociological)
Quick answer
What does “digamy” mean?
A second marriage after the death or divorce of a first spouse.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A second marriage after the death or divorce of a first spouse.
The act or condition of entering into a marriage while a previous spouse is still living (used historically or in specific religious contexts, though modern usage typically implies the first marriage ended).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Slightly more likely to be encountered in British ecclesiastical or historical writing.
Connotations
Equally formal and rare in both varieties. No negative connotation in modern general use, though may carry historical/religious judgment in specific contexts.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both varieties. More common in academic texts (e.g., history, canon law) than in general discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “digamy” in a Sentence
[Subject] entered into digamy.The [law/doctrine] permits/prohibits digamy.Digamy after [event] was controversial.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “digamy” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He was free to digamise after his wife's passing, according to the laws of the time.
American English
- The ancient custom did not allow a man to digamize if his first wife had borne children.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in historical, theological, sociological, or legal studies discussing marriage patterns, canon law, or family history.
Everyday
Extremely rare. 'Remarriage' or 'second marriage' are universal choices.
Technical
Precise term in historical canon law or anthropology to specify marriage after the death of a spouse, distinguishing it from other forms of plural marriage.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “digamy”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “digamy”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “digamy”
- Confusing 'digamy' with 'bigamy'. Using it to mean 'having two spouses at once'. Pronouncing it as /daɪˈɡæmi/ (like 'dig' + 'amy').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Digamy is a legal second marriage after the first has ended (by death or divorce). Bigamy is the illegal act of marrying someone while already being lawfully married to another living person.
No, it is very rare and formal. In everyday language, 'remarriage' or 'second marriage' are always used instead.
Technically, it refers specifically to a *second* marriage. The term for a third marriage is 'trigamy' (though often used jokingly, as it also can mean having three spouses at once), and for multiple sequential marriages, 'serial monogamy' is the modern sociological term.
It comes from Late Latin 'digamia', from Greek 'digamos' (twice married), from 'di-' (two, twice) + 'gamos' (marriage).
A second marriage after the death or divorce of a first spouse.
Digamy is usually formal, technical (legal, religious, sociological) in register.
Digamy: in British English it is pronounced /ˈdɪɡəmi/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈdɪɡəmi/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to this word.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'DI' (two) + 'GAMY' (marriage) = a second marriage.
Conceptual Metaphor
MARRIAGE IS A UNION; DIGAMY IS A SECOND UNION.
Practice
Quiz
What is the core meaning of 'digamy'?