Polygamy is the practice of having more than one spouse simultaneously. It can take various forms, primarily distinguished by the gender of the multiple spouses involved:
Polygyny: This is the most common form of polygamy, where one man is married to multiple women. It has been historically and culturally practised in many societies around the world.
Polyandry: This is a rarer form of polygamy, where one woman is married to multiple men. It has been practised in some cultures, such as certain Himalayan societies, parts of Tibet, and among the Toda people of India.
Group Marriage (or Communal Marriage): This form involves multiple men and multiple women forming a single marital unit. This practice is less common and often associated with communal living arrangements or certain utopian communities.
