Monogami kelimesi [[Yunanca]]'da eşkilikeşlilik anlamına gelen ''μονός'' ve evlilik anlamına gelen ''γάμος'' kelimelerinden türetilmiştir.<ref name="BRIT">Cf. "Monogamy" in ''Britannica World Language Dictionary'', R.C. Preble (ed.), Oxford-London 1962, p. 1275:''1. The practice or principle of marrying only once. opp. to digamy now ''rare'' 2. The condition, rule or custom of being married to only one [[person]] at a time (opp. to polygamy or bigamy) 1708. 3. [[Zoology|Zool.]] The habit of living in pairs, or having only one mate''; The same text repeats ''The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary'', W. Little, H.W. Fowler, J. Coulson (ed.), C.T. Onions (rev. & ed.,) Oxford 1969, 3rd edition, vol.1, p.1275; [http://dictionary.oed.com/cgi/entry/00314586 OED Online]. Mart 2010. Oxford University Press. 23 Haziran 2010 Cf. [http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/monogamy Monogamy] {{Webarşiv|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150623232650/http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/monogamy |tarih=23 Haziran 2015 }} in Merriam-Webster Dictionary</ref>
