plural marriage: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Academic, Religious/Sociological
Quick answer
What does “plural marriage” mean?
A marital system where one person is married to more than one spouse simultaneously.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A marital system where one person is married to more than one spouse simultaneously.
A form of marriage practiced in specific cultural or religious contexts, most commonly referring to polygyny (one man with multiple wives), such as in historical Mormon fundamentalism. It is distinct from bigamy, which is a legal crime, and typically exists within a sanctioned religious or cultural framework.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is far more prevalent in American English due to its historical and legal association with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) and its breakaway fundamentalist groups in the US. In British English, 'polygamy' is the more common generic term.
Connotations
In both varieties, it carries strong connotations of specific religious practices and, often, social controversy. In American English, it directly evokes the history of the LDS Church and modern fundamentalist communities.
Frequency
Low frequency in both, but significantly higher in American English in historical, sociological, or religious contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “plural marriage” in a Sentence
The [RELIGIOUS GROUP] practiced plural marriage.Plural marriage was [VERB: abolished/defended] in [YEAR/PLACE].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “plural marriage” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The sect's leader encouraged his followers to plural-marry.
- They were known to have plural-married in secret.
American English
- The early church leaders plural-married despite state laws.
- He was excommunicated for attempting to plural-marry.
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverbial form. Usage would be highly non-standard and context-specific.]
American English
- [No standard adverbial form.]
adjective
British English
- The plural-marriage household was complex.
- They lived a plural-marriage lifestyle.
American English
- She came from a plural-marriage family in Utah.
- The investigation focused on plural-marriage compounds.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in sociology, anthropology, religious studies, and history papers to describe specific marital structures.
Everyday
Rare. Used in news reports or discussions about specific religious communities.
Technical
A specific term in anthropology and religious history.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “plural marriage”
- Confusing it with 'serial monogamy' (multiple spouses, but one at a time).
- Using it interchangeably with 'open marriage' (which implies consent for extramarital relationships but not multiple spouses).
- Misspelling as 'plural marrige'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, 'plural marriage' is essentially a synonym for polygamy, but it carries a stronger association with specific religious contexts, particularly 19th-century and fundamentalist Mormonism.
No, it is illegal in all 50 U.S. states and in most Western countries under bigamy or polygamy laws. It exists in a legal grey area or is openly practiced in some countries and within certain religious communities worldwide.
Plural marriage implies a formal, often religiously sanctioned, marital union with multiple spouses. Polyamory refers to consensual, romantic relationships with multiple partners, which may or may not involve legal marriage.
No. It was practiced by a minority of members in the 19th century. The mainstream Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints officially discontinued the practice in 1890 and excommunicates members who enter into plural marriages today.
A marital system where one person is married to more than one spouse simultaneously.
Plural marriage is usually formal, academic, religious/sociological in register.
Plural marriage: in British English it is pronounced /ˌplʊə.rəl ˈmær.ɪdʒ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌplʊr.əl ˈmer.ɪdʒ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms specific to this term]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'plural' = more than one, so 'plural marriage' = marriage to more than one person.
Conceptual Metaphor
MARRIAGE IS A UNIT OF MULTIPLE PARTS (like a plural noun indicates multiple objects).
Practice
Quiz
In a modern Western context, 'plural marriage' is most specifically associated with which group?