Polygyny (; from
Neoclassical Greek πολυγυνία from -
poly- "many", and
gyne "woman" or "wife") is a form of plural marriage in which a man is allowed more than one wife (i.e., it is a narrow form of
polygamy, and distinguished from other forms of
polygamy such as
polyandry). In modern countries that permit polygamy, polygyny is typically the only form permitted.