Meaning of hyperandry | Babel Free

Definitions

Act or practice of a man seeking a spouse of higher socioeconomic status or caste status than himself.

uncountable, usually

Examples

“Hypergamy refers to the tendency of either sex to mate with individuals of superior status. When women date⟳ or marry⟳ up, it is called hypergyny. When men do so, it is called hyperandry.”

“The more common variant of hypergamous unions is hypergyny, in which a woman realizes social, economic, and political gains by marrying a man whose status is higher than that ascribed to her family or group of origin. In the opposite pattern, known as hyperandry, a man of low status takes a bride who enjoys a higher social position.”

“In addition, unlike in other parts of Europe where hypergyny prevailed, Coleman found evidence of hyperandry among the agricultural populations of Saint Germain-des-Pres: That is, women's marriage choices did not depend⟳ on their social status relative to that of men, as demonstrated by the significant number⟳ of marriages in which the women married men of lower social status.”

CEFR level