exogamy
C2Academic / Technical / Formal
Definition
Meaning
The social practice of marrying outside one's own social group, clan, or tribe.
In biology, the fusion of reproductive cells from distantly related or unrelated individuals; outbreeding.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is primarily anthropological/sociological, with a secondary technical use in biology/genetics. In social contexts, it implies a rule or norm, not just a random occurrence.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling is consistent.
Connotations
Identical academic and neutral connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally rare and specialized in both UK and US English, confined to academic discourse.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The [NOUN] practices exogamy.Exogamy is [VERB-ed] by [NOUN].The rule of exogamy [VERB]...Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[None for this technical term]”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Core term in anthropology, sociology, and biology. 'The study analysed the effects of clan exogamy on social networks.'
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Used precisely in genetics/biology to denote mating between unrelated strains.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The group were expected to exogamise, forming alliances with neighbouring villages.
- They do not exogamise; their rules forbid it.
American English
- The tribe was required to exogamize to ensure genetic diversity.
- Societies that exogamize often have complex kinship systems.
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverbial form in common use. 'Exogamously' is theoretically possible but extremely rare.]
American English
- [No standard adverbial form in common use.]
adjective
British English
- Exogamic practices varied between the clans.
- The exogamic rules were strictly enforced.
American English
- Exogamous marriages strengthened ties between the two communities.
- They followed an exogamous pattern for generations.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- [Too complex for A2. Use placeholder.]
- Some cultures have rules about exogamy, meaning you must marry someone from a different group.
- Anthropologists studied the tribe's strict practice of exogamy, which required marriage outside one's own clan.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'EXit' + 'gamy' (marriage) = marriage to someone OUTSIDE your group.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIAL BOUNDARIES ARE CONTAINERS (marrying outside the container).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation to 'экзогамия' without confirming the anthropological context. It is not a common word in general Russian.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing it with 'exorcism'.
- Using it to mean simply 'dating foreigners'.
- Misspelling as 'exogomy' or 'exogamy'.
Practice
Quiz
In a biological context, 'exogamy' is most closely related to which concept?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It creates alliances between groups, expands social networks, and can prevent genetic problems associated with inbreeding.
Yes, precisely. Endogamy is the practice of marrying within one's own social group.
Rarely, but it can be used metaphorically in sociology to discuss marriage across class, ethnic, or religious boundaries.
No, it is a specialized academic term. The average native speaker is unlikely to know or use it.