Endogamy
/ɛnˈdɒɡəmi/noun
The social practice or rule of marrying within a particular social, ethnic, religious, or cultural group.
Did you know?Although endogamy is built from Ancient Greek roots, the English anthropological term became prominent only in the nineteenth century as scholars classified marriage rules across societies.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*en
“In, into, or within”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ἔνδον (endon)
“Within or inside”
Ancient Greek
Greek
γάμος (gamos)
“Marriage or wedding”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ἐνδογαμία (endogamia)
“Marriage within a group”
19th Century
English
endogamy
“The practice of marrying within a particular group”
Modern English
English
endogamy
“A social or cultural rule favoring marriage within a defined community”
Explore more surprising origins