endogamy: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Academic, Technical
Quick answer
What does “endogamy” mean?
The custom of marrying only within one's own social group, tribe, or clan.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The custom of marrying only within one's own social group, tribe, or clan.
In a broader sense, it refers to any practice of restricting mating or marriage to members of a specific group, class, or category, often to maintain cultural or genetic purity. In biology, it can refer to self-fertilization or breeding within a closed population.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
Neutral technical term in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in academic contexts in both regions. Virtually absent from everyday speech.
Grammar
How to Use “endogamy” in a Sentence
The [GROUP] practices endogamy.Endogamy is common among [GROUP].A rule of endogamy governs [ASPECT].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “endogamy” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The community traditionally endogamises to preserve its heritage.
- They have endogamised for centuries.
American English
- The group endogamizes to maintain its distinct identity.
- Populations that endogamize can develop unique genetic traits.
adjective
British English
- The endogamous practices of the tribe were well-documented.
- They lived in an endogamous community.
American English
- Endogamous marriage rules were strictly enforced.
- The study focused on an endogamous population.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Central term in anthropology and sociology for describing marriage rules. Used in genetics/biology for describing breeding within an isolated population.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Would only be used in educated discussion of social customs.
Technical
Precise term in the fields mentioned above.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “endogamy”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “endogamy”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “endogamy”
- Mispronouncing as /ˈɛndoʊɡeɪmi/ (like 'bigamy').
- Confusing it with 'endogeny' (internal origin).
- Using it to mean simply 'arranged marriage'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Incest refers to sexual relations or marriage between very close blood relatives. Endogamy is a broader rule about marrying within a social, religious, or ethnic group, which may or may not involve close relatives.
It is a core term in social/cultural anthropology and sociology when discussing kinship and marriage systems. It is also used in population genetics and biology.
Yes, in biology, it can refer to the breeding or self-fertilization within an isolated population, as opposed to mixing with outsiders (exogamy).
It is a neutral, descriptive term in academic writing. In everyday discourse, it may carry negative connotations if associated with forced segregation or lack of freedom, or positive connotations if linked to cultural preservation.
The custom of marrying only within one's own social group, tribe, or clan.
Endogamy is usually formal, academic, technical in register.
Endogamy: in British English it is pronounced /ɛnˈdɒɡəmi/, and in American English it is pronounced /ɛnˈdɑːɡəmi/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: ENDO- (inside, as in 'endoscope') + -GAMY (marriage, as in 'polygamy'). Marriage happening 'inside' the group.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIAL BOUNDARIES ARE WALLS (endogamy keeps marriage within the walls of the group). PURITY IS CONTAINMENT (endogamy contains the genetic or cultural lineage).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the direct antonym of 'endogamy'?