Polygamy is a form of marriage in which an individual is legally or socially permitted to have more than one spouse simultaneously. It can take two main forms: polygyny, where a man has multiple wives, and polyandry, where a woman has multiple husbands. While monogamy (marriage to one spouse at a time) is the most common form of marriage globally, polygamy is practiced in some cultures and religions around the world, often with specific social, economic, or religious justifications.