hypergamy

[ hahy-pur-guh-mee ]

noun
  1. the practice among Hindu women of marrying into a caste at least as high as their own.

Origin of hypergamy

1
First recorded in 1880–85; hyper- + -gamy

Other words from hypergamy

  • hy·per·ga·mous, adjective

Words Nearby hypergamy

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How to use hypergamy in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for hypergamy

hypergamy

/ (haɪˈpɜːɡəmɪ) /


noun
  1. anthropol a custom that forbids a woman to marry a man of lower social status

  2. any marriage with a partner of higher social status

Origin of hypergamy

1
C19: from hyper- + -gamy

Derived forms of hypergamy

  • hypergamous, adjective

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