homogamy: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal / Technical
Quick answer
What does “homogamy” mean?
The marriage or union between individuals who are similar to each other, especially in social, cultural, or biological characteristics.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The marriage or union between individuals who are similar to each other, especially in social, cultural, or biological characteristics.
1. In biology/botany: The condition where flowers have both male and female reproductive parts maturing at the same time, allowing self-fertilization. 2. In sociology: The tendency for people to marry those with similar social attributes such as education, class, ethnicity, or religion.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in definition. US academic writing may use the sociological sense slightly more frequently due to extensive social science research on marriage patterns.
Connotations
Sociological sense: neutral/descriptive. Botanical sense: neutral/biological descriptor. The word itself carries no inherent positive or negative connotation.
Frequency
Very low frequency in general language. Used almost exclusively in academic, scientific, or sociological texts.
Grammar
How to Use “homogamy” in a Sentence
[Subject: Study/Pattern/Tendency] + show/demonstrate/indicate + [Degree] + homogamy + [Prepositional Phrase: in/among/of]There is + [Degree] + homogamy + [Prepositional Phrase: in terms of/regarding]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “homogamy” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The study revealed a strongly homogamous pattern in terms of educational attainment.
American English
- The trend toward more homogamous unions has increased in recent decades.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Primary context. Used in sociology papers on marriage patterns and in botanical research on plant reproduction.
Everyday
Virtually never used. The concept might be described as 'marrying someone similar'.
Technical
Standard term in its specialized fields.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “homogamy”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “homogamy”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “homogamy”
- Confusing 'homogamy' (marriage of similars) with 'homogeneity' (state of being uniform).
- Using it in casual conversation where simpler terms like 'marrying someone like yourself' are appropriate.
- Misspelling as 'homogeny' or 'homogeneity'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Homogamy describes the *similarity* of partners, not how they are chosen. An arranged marriage could be homogamous (if families choose similar partners) or heterogamous.
Endogamy is marriage *within a specific, defined social group* (e.g., caste, tribe). Homogamy is broader, referring to marriage between individuals *similar* on specific traits (e.g., education, income), which may or may not involve a closed group.
No, 'homogamy' is a noun. The related adjective is 'homogamous'. There is no standard verb form; one would say 'marry homogamously' or 'engage in homogamy'.
In academic usage, it is a neutral, descriptive term. Socially, its effects are debated; it can strengthen group identity but may reduce social integration across classes or ethnicities.
The marriage or union between individuals who are similar to each other, especially in social, cultural, or biological characteristics.
Homogamy is usually formal / technical in register.
Homogamy: in British English it is pronounced /həʊˈmɒɡəmi/, and in American English it is pronounced /hoʊˈmɑːɡəmi/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'Homo-' means 'same' (like homogeneous). '-gamy' means 'marriage' (like polygamy). So, 'same-marriage' → marrying someone similar.
Conceptual Metaphor
MARRIAGE IS A UNION OF SIMILARS (for the sociological sense).
Practice
Quiz
In which field would 'homogamy' refer to the simultaneous maturation of male and female flower parts?